India issued a forceful response to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he once again raised the Kashmir issue and made accusations against India, drawing parallels between the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and that of Palestine. Exercising its right of reply, India strongly condemned Sharif’s remarks, calling them a "travesty" and accusing Pakistan of hypocrisy for attempting to lecture the world on peace and security while being a state sponsor of terrorism.
Indian diplomat Bhavika Mangalanandan, speaking in India's defense, criticized Pakistan's long-standing agenda of internationalizing the Kashmir issue. She reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir is an "inalienable and integral part of India," and highlighted how Pakistan has consistently sought to destabilize the region by fueling terrorism. Mangalanandan pointed out that Pakistan has for decades used terrorism as a key tool in its foreign policy against India and its other neighbors. She listed several instances of Pakistan-backed terrorist attacks on Indian soil, including the attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and bombings in marketplaces and pilgrimage routes. Mangalanandan labeled Pakistan’s actions as "hypocrisy at its worst" for attempting to paint itself as a victim of violence while being the perpetrator of cross-border terrorism.
India also took the opportunity to highlight Pakistan's internal challenges, pointing to its flawed political system. Mangalanandan questioned Pakistan’s authority to comment on democratic processes, especially in light of its own "history of rigged elections" and military dominance in its political sphere. She also pointed out that Pakistan’s attempts to interfere in Jammu and Kashmir were aimed at disrupting democratic processes, particularly elections, in the region. Despite these efforts, India has successfully conducted democratic elections in Jammu and Kashmir, further cementing its commitment to upholding democracy in the region.
During his speech at the UNGA, Shehbaz Sharif had drawn comparisons between Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine, stating that the people of Kashmir had been "struggling for a century for their freedom and right to self-determination." He called on India to reverse its decision to abrogate Article 370 in 2019, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special constitutional status. Sharif urged international intervention and dialogue in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the "wishes of the Kashmiri people." He also accused India of rejecting Pakistan’s proposal for a mutual strategic restraint regime and claimed that Indian leadership had issued threats to cross the Line of Control (LoC) into what Pakistan refers to as "Azad Kashmir."
In response, India reiterated its firm stance that "terror and talks cannot go together." The Indian representative dismissed Sharif’s calls for dialogue and strategic restraint, emphasizing that Pakistan’s harboring of terrorism precludes any meaningful engagement. "There can be no compact with terrorism," Mangalanandan asserted, adding that Pakistan should realize that its continued support for cross-border terrorism will inevitably invite severe consequences. India has consistently maintained that peace can only be achieved once Pakistan ceases its support for terrorism and stops using it as a state policy.
India also seized the moment to expose Pakistan’s poor human rights record, particularly its treatment of minorities and its involvement in historical atrocities. Mangalanandan referenced the 1971 genocide in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), in which Pakistani forces were responsible for the massacre of hundreds of thousands of civilians. She also highlighted the ongoing persecution of religious and ethnic minorities in Pakistan, including Christians, Hindus, and Shia Muslims. Mangalanandan stated that it was "ridiculous" for Pakistan to present itself as a defender of human rights, given its own dismal track record. She noted that Pakistan’s history of association with global terrorism, including its past support for Osama bin Laden, exposed its true nature. India pointed out that Pakistan's involvement in numerous terror incidents around the world made it a nation with no moral authority to speak about human rights or peace.
India firmly rejected Sharif's comments as "unacceptable" and reiterated that Pakistan's attempts to obscure the truth with falsehoods would not change the reality. Mangalanandan stressed that India's position on Jammu and Kashmir is clear and remains unchanged. She added that India is committed to ensuring peace and stability in the region, but will not tolerate terrorism or interference from Pakistan.
In his 20-minute speech, Shehbaz Sharif had also expressed concerns about what he described as the "massive expansion of India’s military capabilities" directed against Pakistan. He voiced his alarm over rising Islamophobia globally and the alleged "subjugation" of Muslims in India, blaming what he termed a "Hindu supremacist agenda" for the plight of Indian Muslims. However, India dismissed these accusations as baseless and accused Pakistan of attempting to deflect attention from its own internal failures by focusing on fabricated external threats. Mangalanandan highlighted that India, as the world's largest democracy, is home to a diverse population with a robust tradition of pluralism, and it remains committed to protecting the rights of all its citizens, regardless of religion or ethnicity.
India concluded its reply by calling on Pakistan to stop its duplicity and instead focus on addressing its own challenges, including terrorism, human rights abuses, and governance issues. Mangalanandan emphasized that while Pakistan may continue to spread misinformation, the world is well aware of its real intentions and actions.
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