Responding to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly, India on Saturday, 28 September, said that his threat of unleashing nuclear devastation "qualifies as brinkmanship not statesmanship".
India also questioned why Pakistan was providing pension to global terrorists listed by the UN in the Al Qaeda and Da’esh Sanctions list.
"Unfortunately, what we heard today from Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan was a callous portrayal of the world in binary terms. Us vs Them; Rich vs Poor; North vs South; Developed vs Developing; Muslims vs Others. A script that fosters divisiveness at the United Nations. Attempts to sharpen differences and stir up hatred, are simply put - 'hate speech'," said Vidisha Maitra, First Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs, while exercising India's right to reply.
She added that invocation of phrases such as “pogrom”, “bloodbath”, “racial superiority”, “pick up the gun” and “fight to the end”, reflected the “medieval mindset” of the country.
Questions Posed to Pakistan
Khan, in his speech, claimed that there are “no militant organisations” in Pakistan, and that there will be “consequences” when two nuclear armed countries fight.
“If a conventional war starts, anything could happen. But supposing, a country seven times smaller than its neighbour is faced with the choice - either you surrender or you fight for your freedom till death. What will we do? I asked myself this question.”Imran Khan, Pakistan Prime Minister
In a sharp rebuttal, Maitra, on behalf of India, asked Pakistan to respond to the following questions on aiding terror:
- Can Pakistan confirm the fact that it is home to 130 UN designated terrorists and 25 terrorist entities listed by the UN, as of today?
- Will Pakistan acknowledge that it is the only Government in the world that provides pension to an individual listed by the UN in the Al Qaeda and Da’esh Sanctions list!
- Can Pakistan explain why here in New York, its premier bank, the Habib Bank had to shut shop after it was fined millions of dollars over terror financing?
- Will Pakistan deny that the Financial Action Task Force has put the country on notice for its violations of more than 20 of the 27 key parameters?
- And would Prime Minister Khan deny to the city of New York that he was an open defender of Osama bin Laden?
‘India Doesn’t Need Anyone to Speak on Their Behalf’
In his address to the UNGA, Imran Khan spoke at length about India's decision to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and criticised the government's move to put in place a communication lockdown.
"What is the world community going to do. Is it going to appease a market of 1.2 billion, or is it going to stand up for justice and humanity," the Pakistani prime minister was quoted by PTI as saying.
In response to this, Maitra said that revoking the “outdated and temporary provision” of Article 370, that provided special status to the state will boost development in it.
“While Pakistan has ventured to upstream terrorism and downstream hate speech there, India is going ahead with mainstreaming development in Jammu and Kashmir. Citizens of India do not need anyone else to speak on their behalf, least of all those who have built an industry of terrorism from the ideology of hate.”Vidisha Maitra, First Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs
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