India delivered a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today, following his remarks on the Jammu and Kashmir issue. In response to Sharif’s speech, which called for India to reverse its 2019 abrogation of Article 370 and engage in dialogue, India’s First Secretary to the UN, Bhavika Mangalanandan, strongly condemned Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism, warning that it will “inevitably invite consequences.”
In her statement, Mangalanandan directly addressed Pakistan’s history of using terrorism as a state policy, calling it a country “run by the military” with a “global reputation for terrorism, narcotics trade, and transnational crime.” She accused Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism not only against India but around the world, citing key incidents such as the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai attacks, both orchestrated by Pakistan-based terror groups.
Mangalanandan’s speech characterized Sharif’s claims as audacious, given Pakistan’s track record. She stated, “The world can see for itself what Pakistan really is.” She pointed out that Pakistan has often acted to destabilize Jammu and Kashmir through terrorism, while also attempting to disrupt the democratic processes in the region.
Sharif’s speech linked the Kashmir issue to regional peace and alleged that India’s military expansion was targeted at Pakistan. However, Mangalanandan sharply rejected these claims, asserting that Pakistan’s own actions in supporting terrorism in Kashmir have long hindered peace efforts. She reiterated that there could be no discussions of a “Strategic Restraint Regime” with Pakistan unless terrorism was eradicated. “There can be no compact with terrorism,” she declared.
Mangalanandan went further, spotlighting Pakistan’s internal challenges, including its human rights abuses, particularly the 1971 genocide in Bangladesh, and ongoing persecution of minorities within the country. She criticized Pakistan for attempting to lecture the world about intolerance, labeling it “ridiculous” given its own record on human rights.
Pakistan responded with a Right of Reply, dismissing India’s accusations as “baseless and misleading.” Sharif’s government once again called for a referendum in Jammu and Kashmir, in line with UN Security Council resolutions, despite India’s firm stance that no such referendum will be held.
The exchange at the UN highlights the deepening tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with terrorism and the Kashmir issue remaining central points of conflict. As the debate continues on the global stage, India’s message to Pakistan remains resolute: cross-border terrorism will no longer be tolerated, and any attempts to destabilize the region will be met with consequences.
