New York (APP/DawnToday): Pakistan strongly criticized India at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), calling New Delhi a “regional bully” after an Indian diplomat described Pakistan as “terroristan.”
Speaking during the Right of Reply, Muhammad Rashid, Second Secretary at Pakistan’s UN Mission, said India’s attempt to distort the name of a fellow UN member state was “utterly shameful and undignified.” He stressed that instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue, India was resorting to “cheap slurs” that undermine its credibility on the global stage.
Longstanding Tensions Between Pakistan and India
Pakistan and India, both nuclear-armed neighbors, share a turbulent history marked by four wars since independence. Relations have remained tense, especially after India launched airstrikes in Pakistani territory earlier this year following the Pahalgam attack in occupied Kashmir, which killed more than 20 people. Pakistan denied any involvement, and the crisis was eventually de-escalated through US mediation.
Pakistan’s Response at UNGA
Rejecting remarks made by Indian representative Rentala Srinivas and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, Rashid accused India of “state-sponsored terrorism” and holding South Asia hostage through its hegemonic designs.
“India itself is a serial perpetrator of terrorism and a regional bully,” Rashid said, adding that New Delhi’s actions expose its duplicity in counterterrorism claims.
He also pointed to alleged Indian involvement in financing and directing groups responsible for sabotage and targeted killings abroad. Rashid emphasized that such behavior violates international law and threatens regional stability.
Kashmir and Human Rights Concerns
The Pakistani diplomat reminded the UN that India’s record in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) remains marred by extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, staged encounters, and systemic human rights violations under the guise of counterterrorism. He argued that these actions reflect India’s “state terrorism” against innocent civilians.
Pakistan’s Call for Peace
While strongly rejecting terrorism allegations, Rashid reaffirmed Pakistan’s sacrifices and contributions in the global fight against terrorism. He said Pakistan has consistently advocated for peace, dialogue, and diplomacy in South Asia.
“True progress requires sincerity, mutual respect, and dialogue. Pakistan has always upheld these principles, and it is time India embraced them if it truly seeks peace,” he added.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his UNGA speech, urged for “proactive, not provocative” leadership in South Asia, stressing that peace and stability cannot be achieved through threats and intimidation.
