'Pakistan continues to face terrorism financed and orchestrated by India,' SMQ at UN

NEW YORK - Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday told the UN General Assembly that India was actively involved in the terrorist attacks in Pakistan by providing financial assistance to the extremists.

The minister, who was accompanied by Pakistan's Ambassador to UN Dr Maleeha Lodhi, clarified that "Kulbhushan Yadav, a serving Indian Navy Commander, on the behest of his government, planned terror attacks inside Pakistan," Qureshi said while addressing the representatives of the United Nations' 195 member states during the UNGA's 73rd session.

India in plain sight of the international community perpetrates state sponsored terrorism in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India.#PakistanatUNGA #Pakistan #India #Kashmir

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) September 29, 2018

Tearing into India for violating human rights in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir, he warned the neighbouring country of not testing Pakistan's resolve for peace and its patience over Indian aggression on the border.

In his first speech in Urdu at the world forum, Qureshi highlighted the issues being faced by people in Indian-Administered Kashmir.

There can be no lasting peace in South Asia without a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute based on the UN Security Council resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people #Pakistan #PakistanatUNGA #Kashmir

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) September 29, 2018

“India in plain sight of the international community perpetrates state-sponsored terrorism in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India,” Qureshi said, adding that there can be no lasting peace in South Asia without a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute based on the UN Security Council resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people.

“India called off dialogue with Pakistan multiple times on flimsy grounds, preferred politics over peace - used the pretext of stamps issued of a Kashmiri activist and depicting grave human rights violations, including pellet gun victims, as an excuse to back out from the talks,” he added.

The minister highlighted that Pakistan continues to face terrorism financed and orchestrated by India - shall never forget the mass murder of more than 150 children in a Peshawar School, the terrible Mastung attack and others that have links with terrorists supported by India.

India called off dialogue with Pakistan multiple times on flimsy grounds, preferred politics over peace - used the pretext of stamps issued of a Kashmiri activist and depicting grave human rights violations, including pellet gun victims, as an excuse to back out from the talks

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) September 29, 2018

The serving Indian Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav provided evidence of Indian financed, planned and executed acts of terrorism and violence in Pakistan, he added.

“If India ventures across the LoC, or acts upon its doctrine of “limited” war against Pakistan, it will evoke a strong and matching response,” he warned.

He made it clear that “Pakistan will not compromise on the sovereignty of its people, as we seek a peaceful environment both at the national level and in the region to promote the development agenda.” Pakistan will work with its partners to promote dialogue among civilizations, he added.

Pakistan continues to face terrorism financed and orchestrated by India - shall never forget the mass murder of more than 150 children in a Peshawar School, the terrible Mastung attack and others that have links with terrorists supported by India #Pakistan #PakistanatUNGA #India

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) September 29, 2018

The minister's speech mainly focused the on newly elected PTI government’s vision and direction to the world.

He also spoke of the world's largest and most successful anti-terror operation by Pakistan Army which has helped the South Asian country gets back on its feet.

If India ventures across the LoC, or acts upon its doctrine of “limited” war against Pakistan, it will evoke a strong and matching response #PakistanatUNGA #Pakistan #India

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) September 29, 2018

Before Qureshi, India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj used the world stage to slam Pakistan, accusing it of "harbouring terrorists" and “masking malevolence with duplicity”.

Swaraj strongly rebuked Pakistan’s claim that India was sabotaging the dialogue process. She said talks cannot be pursued in the midst of “terrorist bloodshed” with a nation that “glorifies killers” and refuses to see the “blood of innocents”.

Serving Indian Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhev provided evidence of Indian financed, planned and executed acts of terrorism and violence in Pakistan#PakistanatUNGA #India #terrorismbyIndia

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) September 29, 2018

The Indian diplomat said despite the olive branch for talks extended by Pakistan many times, the process had to be stopped only because of the ‘behaviour’ of the neighbouring country.

The fiery speech comes a day after her Pakistani counterpart Qureshi expressed disappointment on India’s rejection of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s offer of resuming peace talks following the diplomatic snub at the informal meeting of SAARC foreign ministers in New York.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swRJxX7gvdM&feature=youtu.be

Earlier, on Friday, highlighting the grave human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir, Qureshi called on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to play his role in resolving the decades-old dispute between India and Pakistan.

According to an official statement, the foreign minister voiced Pakistan’s serious concern over the plight of the people in Indian Occupied Kashmir as evidenced in the damning report of the UN Human Rights High Commissioner.

He stressed the need for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

The Foreign Minister also referred to the jingoistic rhetoric from New Delhi, and asked the Secretary-General to urge India not to embark on any misadventure, the statement said. Guterres is due to visit India in the first week of next month.

FM Qureshi expressed Pakistan’s desire to engage with India for lasting peace in the region.

The foreign minister will also meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on October 2.

The Secretary-General, calling Pakistan a privileged partner of the UN, appreciated its lead role at the UN, including as a top troop contributor to peacekeeping.

Foreign Minister Qureshi and Secretary General agreed on the importance of promoting regional peace through dialogue, the statement said.

Qureshi, who earlier served as foreign minister during the tenure of the 2008-13 Pakistan People's Party (PPP)-led government, has represented the nation earlier at the 65th session of the UN General Assembly.