India comes out swinging yet again at Pakistan.
UNITED NATIONS: In a strongly-worded 20-minute speech rendered in Hindi, India’s external Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj called upon the United Nations to hold Pakistan culpable for the numerous terrorist attacks it has sponsored and perpetrated not only against India, but globally, and help extradite the terrorists Pakistan harbor for these egregious acts of violence, today.
Swaraj also gave a stinging reply to Nawaz Sharif’s contention in his speech last week on alleged human rights violations in Kashmir, by bringing up the issue of Balochistan, saying “the brutality (by Pakistan) against the Baloch people represents the worst form of state oppression.â€
Coming after Indian diplomat at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Eenam Gambhir’s response to Sharif’s speech, where she took the name of Pakistan 10 times, and detailed how the country has become the “Ivy League of terrorism,†Swaraj’s speech hammered home the point to world leaders and delegates to closely scrutinize Pakistan’s criminal ways that have created mayhem around the world, and taken the lives of innumerable innocent men, women and children, with impunity.
Read the story on Eenam Gambhir’s speech at the United Nations:
Swaraj’s plea to hold Pakistan culpable for the atrocities it commits, and extradite terrorists it harbors, is also bound to be repeated by India at other world body forums in the future. The plan is to further isolate Pakistan diplomatically, make countries think hard about repercussions before it commits to any form of assistance or aid to Pakistan.
India would also hope to make the case for Pakistan to be declared a state-sponsor of terrorism, make its leaders culpable for acts of terrorism.
Pakistan’s old ploy of trying to wash off their hands off terrorist acts it has secretly sponsored and fomenting civil unrest in India, by pleading innocence despite overwhelming evidence that points to their participation, should not be allowed to work anymore, is India’s determined outlook.
“In our midst, there are nations that still speak the language of terrorism, that nurture it, peddle it, and export it. To shelter terrorists has become their calling card. We must identify these nations and hold them to account,” Swaraj said in her speech.
“These nations, in which UN designated terrorists roam freely, lead processions and deliver their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity, are as culpable as the very terrorists they harbor. Such countries should have no place in the comity of nations,” Swaraj added.
Swaraj also made it clear that India had not been found wanting in its numerous endeavors to make peace with its neighbor, despite suffering loss of lives time and again, but had not managed to instill common sense in Pakistan to do the same.
She pointed out that India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reached out to Pakistan many times in the recent past.
“We conveyed Eid greetings to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, wished success to his cricket team, extended good wishes for his health and well-being. Did all this come with pre-conditions attached? But what did we get in return? Pathankot, Uri, Bahadur Ali,†she said, referring to the terrorist attacks by Pakistan-sponsored militants, and the capture of a Pakistani terrorist.
“Bahadur Ali, who was captured in Jammu and Kashmir, is a living example of Pakistan’s cross-border terrorism. But when confronted with such evidence, Pakistan remains in denial. It persists in the belief that such attacks will enable it to obtain the territory it covets,” she said.
On Kashmir, Swaraj told Pakistan to stop dreaming of acquiring it through subterfuge: “…My firm advice to Pakistan is: abandon this dream. Let me state unequivocally that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so,†she said.
Swaraj had started her condemnation of Pakistan by invoking memories of the 9/11 attacks in the US, and the capture of an Afghan American terrorist, Ahmad Rahami, who has a Pakistani-origin wife, who set off bombs recently in New York City and New Jersey, before being captured by police.
“This month, we marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on this city. Tragically, less than 15 days ago, another attempt at killing innocents was made through an act of terror in this same city. We, who have suffered in Uri recently, understand the pain inflicted by the same forces,†said Swaraj.
“We must acknowledge that terrorism is undoubtedly the biggest violation of human rights. It targets the innocent and kills indiscriminately. Terrorism has gone way beyond affecting individuals or nations – it is a crime against humanity itself. But it is important to ask – who is behind this and who benefits from it? Terrorists do not own banks or weapons factories, so let us ask the real question: who finances these terrorists, who arms them and provides sanctuaries?†she asked the world body.
In her speech, Swaraj also spoke on to alleviate issues that resound globally: poverty and gender equality, as well as touched on topics like yoga, climate change, and India’s energy goals. She pointed out that the 17 development goals adopted by the UN have been matched by India.
“Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Campaign), more than 400,000 toilets have been constructed in schools. The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (Educate the Girl Child, Save the Girl Child) program has become a nation-wide mission,†she said.
(Sujeet Rajan is Editor-in-Chief, The American Bazaar. Follow him @SujeetRajan1)