ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: Strongly hitting back at Pakistan for raising in the United Nations (UN) the issue of the killing of Kashmiris, India has said that the country is misusing the United Nations platform by raising Kashmir issue.
Responding to the remarks made by Pakistan’s envoy Maleeha Lodhi on Kashmir and Wani’s killing during a debate on human rights in the 193-member UN General Assembly on Wednesday, India’s permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) Syed Akbaruddin said that Pakistan “extols” the “virtues” of terrorists and uses terrorism as a state policy towards the “misguided end” of coveting the territory of others.
“Earlier today we have seen an attempt at misuse of this UN platform. The attempt came from Pakistan; a country that covets the territory of others; a country that uses terrorism as state policy towards that misguided end; a country that extols the virtues of terrorists and that provides sanctuary to UN-designated terrorists; and a country that masquerades its efforts as support for human rights and self-determination.”
Akbaruddin asserted that Pakistan’s “track record” failed to convince the international community that it should gain membership of the Human Rights Council in this very session of the UNGA
“The international community has long seen through such designs. Cynical attempts, like the one this morning, therefore, find no resonance in this forum or elsewhere in the United Nations,” he said adding that India remains strongly committed to the promotion and protection of all human rights for all through the pursuit of dialogue and cooperation.
Indian forces have killed at least 30 people including Kashmiri Hurriyat leader Burhan Wani. Wani was killed in an encounter by the Indian troops last week whom India termed as the ‘terror facilitator’.
The UN has expressed concern over the tensed situation in Kashmir. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that all parties should exercise “maximum restraint to avoid further violence and address all concerns through peaceful means.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has called a special Cabinet session on Friday in a bid to rake up the Kashmir issue.
