India’s First Secretary at United Nations for the Second Committee of UNGA, Petal Gahlot, called on Pakistan to take three essential actions for peace in South Asia. Gahlot emphasized that Pakistan must first cease cross-border terrorism and dismantle its infrastructure of terrorism. Secondly, Pakistan should vacate the Indian territories that are under its illegal and forcible occupation. Lastly, Pakistan needs to stop the serious and persistent human rights violations against minorities within its borders.
Gahlot’s statement came after Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaarul Haq Kakar, raised the Kashmir issue during his speech at the 78th session of the UNGA in New York. Kakar expressed Pakistan’s desire for peaceful relations with all neighboring countries, including India, and stated that resolving the Kashmir conflict is crucial for peace between the two nations.
India’s response to Pakistan’s remarks was firm. Gahlot, as part of India’s right to reply, highlighted that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India, and any matters concerning these union territories are purely internal to India. Gahlot strongly condemned Pakistan’s interference and called on them to vacate the occupied Indian territories.
Furthermore, Gahlot accused Pakistan of human rights violations against minorities and urged them to put an end to these acts. She stated that for peace to prevail in South Asia, Pakistan must address the threefold actions mentioned earlier to stop cross-border terrorism, vacate occupied areas, and stop violating the rights of minorities.
Gahlot pointed out that Pakistan is a habitual offender when it comes to misusing international platforms like the UNGA to propagate baseless and malicious propaganda against India. She emphasized that member states of the United Nations and other multilateral organizations are well aware of Pakistan’s tactics to divert attention from its own abysmal record on human rights.
The Indian diplomat also criticized Pakistan as being home to the largest number of internationally proscribed terrorist entities. She called on Pakistan to take credible and verifiable action against the perpetrators of the 2011 Mumbai terror attack.
Gahlot shed light on the systemic violence faced by minorities in Pakistan, specifically highlighting the conditions of Christians and Ahmadiyya communities. She mentioned the Jaranwala incident in Pakistan’s Faisalabad district, where numerous churches and Christian houses were burned down, as a glaring example of the violence against minorities. Gahlot further highlighted the plight of women from minority communities who are subjected to abduction, forced conversion, and forced marriage.
In conclusion, India firmly rebuked Pakistan’s attempt to raise the Kashmir issue at the UNGA by calling on them to focus on addressing their own internal issues, halt cross-border terrorism, vacate occupied Indian territories, and stop human rights violations against minorities.
