United NationsPakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi warned of the possibility of a “dangerous escalation” on the subcontinent and clamoured for intervention by the global organisation, while delivering what is likely the most virulent attack on India at the UN General Assembly in recent times.
Accusing New Delhi of frequently violating the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, he said that “if India does venture across the LoC, or acts upon its doctrine of ‘limited’ war against Pakistan, it will evoke a strong and matching response. He also urged the UN to appoint a special envoy to Kashmir where according to him the struggle of the people was being “brutally suppressed” by India.
Abbasi accused India of indulging in terror activities against Pakistan and warned of a “matching response” if it “ventures across the LoC (Line of Control)” or acts upon its “doctrine of limited war” against his country.
“The Kashmir dispute should be resolved justly, peacefully and expeditiously. As India is unwilling to resume the peace process with Pakistan, we call on the Security Council to fulfil its obligation to secure the implementation of its own resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
The Pakistani prime minister said the “legitimate struggle for self-determination” of the people of Jammu and Kashmir continues to be “brutally suppressed” by Indian security forces.
Abbasi, who assumed office few months ago, mentioned Kashmir a total of 17 times and India 14 times among other things in his speech.
He said the UN Secretary General should appoint a special envoy on Kashmir. “His mandate should flow from the longstanding but unimplemented resolutions of the Security Council.”
He lamented that despite over 600 ceasefire violations on the India-Pakistan border since January this year, Pakistan has acted with restraint.
“But if India does venture across the LoC, or acts upon its doctrine of limited war against Pakistan, it will evoke a strong and matching response,” he said.
“The international community must act decisively to prevent the situation from a dangerous escalation,” he said. Abbasi also admitted that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is directed against India. “Confronted by a hostile and increasingly militarized neighbour, Pakistan has been obliged to maintain the capability for credible deterrence,” he said. “Our strategic assets are vital to deter oft-threatened aggression.”
He also claimed that from day one of its creation, Pakistan has faced “unremitting hostility” from its eastern neighbour (India).
Kashmir Probe
Abbasi demanded an international investigation into the alleged atrocities in Kashmir and sending of an inquiry commission to the Valley.
He alleged that the Indian security forces “brutalities” clearly constitute war crimes and violate the Geneva Conventions.
However, he said that Pakistan remains open to resuming a comprehensive dialogue with India to address all outstanding issues, especially Kashmir and discuss measures to maintain peace and security in the region.
“This dialogue must be accompanied by an end to Indias campaign of subversion and state sponsored terrorism against Pakistan, including from across our western border,” Abbasi said.
Later, exercising its right to reply, India ripped into Pakistan, describing it as “terroristan” and a land of “pure terror” that hosts a flourishing industry to produce and export global terrorism.
‘Terroristan’
In a no-holds-barred speech at the UN General Assembly, Indias representative said, “In its short history, Pakistan has become a geography synonymous with terror.”
Playing on the countrys name, which means “land of pure,” Eenam Gambhir, a First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, said, “The quest for a land of pure has actually produced the land of pure terror. Pakistan is now Terroristan, with a flourishing industry producing and exporting global terrorism.”
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