India slams Pakistan for state-sponsored terrorism, points to India’s successes, calls for UN reform

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UNITED NATIONS: India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar accused Pakistan of state sponsored terrorism and occupation of India’s Kashmir region. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly Saturday, September 28, Jaishankar warned Pakistan India will respond if Islamabad interferes in the Kashmir region.

“Let me make India’s position perfectly clear. Pakistan’s cross border terrorism policy will never succeed,” he said. “It can have no expectation of impunity. On the contrary, actions will certainly have consequences,” Jaishankar said, adding, “The issue to be resolved between us is now only the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan,” Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar’s response came in the wake of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s speech the day before where he accused India of initiating “unilateral illegal steps” to impose a solution for Jammu and Kashmir, referencing the revoking of Article 370, calling it a “classic settler-colonial project” to settle outsiders and transform the region’s Muslim majority into a minority.

Using the Right of Reply, on September 27, India’s First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, Bhavika Mangalanandan, delivered a stinging response. “A country run by the military with a global reputation for terrorism, narcotics trade and transnational crime has had the audacity to attack the world’s largest democracy,” she said in her address. “It has attacked our Parliament, our financial capital, Mumbai, marketplaces and pilgrimage routes. The list is long. For such a country to speak about violence anywhere is hypocrisy,” she added.

In his speech, Jaishankar said Pakistan was suffering the consequence of its own choices. “Today, we see the ills it sought to visit on others consume its own society. It can’t blame the world; this is only karma.” He also pointed to the fact that Osama Bin Laden had been living in Pakistan.

Jaishankar reiterated India’s stand on making the UN system more inclusive and representative. The world body cannot bring together pluralistic and diverse members states and their concerns “by remaining anachronistic,” he said, “Large parts of the world cannot be left behind when it comes to deciding the key issues of our times.”

The after effects of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza, the lagging behind in achievement of the Sustainable Development goals, unfair trade practices and rising debts, technology threats, climate crisis, food insecurities, a polarized world, and endangered peace and prosperity were some of the pressing issues of the times, Jaishankar said, attributing them to the loss of trust.

Strongly suggesting it was time for reflection on the reason for this current state the world, Jaishankar said the problem arises from structural shortcomings, political calculations, ‘naked self-interest’ and disregard for those left behind.

Leaving no one behind means advancing peace, ensuring sustainable development and strengthening human dignity, Jaishankar said, pointing out the UN’s inability in its present form to implement that. “This cannot be delivered by a UN paralyzed when faced with division, conflict, terrorism and violence,” Jaishankar said.

“Reforming multilateralism is, therefore, an imperative,” Jaishankar stressed. If the world continues in the same manner, “it could mean that more of us are going to be left behind,” he said.

Jaishankar spoke at length about the strides India had made towards progress domestically, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  India had focused on the vulnerable populations, women, farmers and youth with targeted policies and initiatives, he said. These include access to piped water, electricity, cooking gas and new homes, and closing the gender gap in health, education and workplace; skill development of youth, financial incentives, for small businesses like street vendors, and women; improving governance and public services, making medicines and health facilities accessible and affordable, creating a digital public infrastructure and people’s pharmacy, among other initiatives, Jaishankar said.

India has taken the lead in voicing concerns of the Global South, encouraging it to present a unified voice, he noted.

At the same time, India has responded to the needs of those in distress, Jaishankar pointed out. Efforts in this direction have included undertaking projects in 78 nations, providing resources to neighboring countries, providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, ensuring maritime safety and security, and supplying medicines.

India’s transformation should give hope to the world that problems can be tackled by working together, Jaishankar said.

“When services, delivery and benefits move seamlessly and transparently, less people will be left behind. That is India’s experience and India’s relevance,” he said.

“By coming together, sharing experiences, pooling resources and strengthening our resolve, we can change the world for the better,” he said, “We strongly support the 79th UNGA’s theme of “Leaving no one behind.”