External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar gave Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a befitting reply on Saturday, saying the only issue left to be resolved between the nations is "the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan."
In a scathing attack, Jaishankar warned Pakistan that its "policy" of cross-border terrorism would never succeed. He also took jabs at the country's economic crisis, stating it is only karma that the ills it sought to visit on others consumed its society.
Jaishankar was speaking at the General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly a day after Sharif referred to Jammu and Kashmir in his UNGA address.
"We heard some bizarre assertions from this very forum yesterday. Let me make India’s position very clear – Pakistan’s policy of cross-border terrorism will never succeed. And it can have no expectation of impunity. On the contrary, actions will certainly have consequences," he said.
#WATCH | New York, US | 79th session of the UN General Assembly | EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "We heard some bizarre assertions from this very forum yesterday. Let me make India's position very clear - Pakistan's policy of cross-border terrorism will never succeed. And it can have… pic.twitter.com/eLzwy6ahu5
— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2024
"Many countries get left behind due to circumstances beyond their control, but some make conscious choices with disastrous consequences. A premier example is our neighbour," Jaishankar said.
He said Islamabad instils such fanaticism among its people that Pakistan's GDP can only be measured in terms of radicalisation and its exports in the form of terrorism. A dysfunctional nation coveting the lands of others must be exposed and must be countered," Jaishankar added.
"The issue to be resolved between us is now only the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan, and, of course, the abandonment of Pakistan's long-standing attachment to terrorism," he said.
Jaishankar also used the platform to hit out at Pakistan's ally China for its stance of blocking proposals submitted by India and its partners, such as the US, to designate Pakistan-based terrorists under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the Security Council. "All its forms of and manifestations must be resolutely opposed. The sanctioning of global terrorists by the United Nations should also not be impeded for political reasons, he said.
Jaishankar's attack on Sharif comes a day after the premier of the beleaguered nation said it would "respond most decisively to any Indian aggression."
He said India should reverse the Abrogation of Article 370 and enter into a dialogue with Pakistan for peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue. “Let me state in no uncertain terms, Pakistan will respond most decisively to any Indian aggression, therefore, to secure durable peace, India must reverse the unilateral and illegal measures it has taken since 5th of August 2019 and enter into a dialogue for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people," Sharif said.
