Backing Canada’s claims of the role of agents linked to India in the killing of separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Pakistan's caretaker PM Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said it is necessary to counter all forms of terrorism including “Hindutva inspired extremists.” Addressing at the United Nations General Assembly, Kakar also raised the Kashmir issue at the UN.
Addressing the UN, Kakar said, “We must counter all terrorists without discrimination including the rising threat by far-right and fascist groups such as Hindutva inspired extremists threatening genocide against India’s Muslims and Christians alike,” The Dawn reported.
The caretaker PM raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in his address to the UN General Assembly, saying that Kashmir is the key to peace between New Delhi and Islamabad.
During his address, Kakar said Pakistan desires peaceful and productive relations with all its neighbours, including India. "Kashmir is the key to peace between Pakistan and India," he said.
"Development depends on peace. Pakistan is situated in the least economically integrated region in the world. Pakistan believes that regions develop together therefore [the country] desires peaceful and productive relations with all neighbours, including India," he said.
Kakar said that the UN Security Council must secure the implementation of its resolutions on Kashmir and said the UN Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) should be "reinforced". "Global powers should convince New Delhi to accept Pakistan's offer of mutual restraint on strategic and conventional weapons," he said.
The Dawn quoted Kakar as saying, “The disgusting reality hidden behind Hindutva’s political agenda in which fascism and chauvinism are very deeply rooted, it is such a dangerous phenomenon that it can ensnare the whole region and the rest of the world in the fires of war.” Kakar said Hindutva politics has affected Balochistan and claimed Pakistan had necessary evidence to back its claims. It “included the confession of high-ranking Indian military officer Kulbhushan Jadhav”, Kakar was quoted as the saying by the publication.
Kakar, backing Canada’s claims against India, said the Sikh separatist leader was “innocent” and a “martyr”. Kakar added the murder of Nijjar, “an innocent person” was a “major crime”. “India as a state has killed humanity on Canadian soil which cannot be condemned enough,” the publication reported.
India has told Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence. New Delhi has repeatedly emphasised that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were, are and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India.
India has also asked Pakistan to concentrate on addressing its internal matters rather than raising the Kashmir issue and indulging in frivolous allegations against New Delhi.
Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after New Delhi abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.
(With PTI inputs.)
