Terror, ethnic cleansing Pak’s crowning glory: India at UN

United Nations, September 26

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The “only crowning glory” that Pakistan has to show to the world for the last seven decades is terrorism, ethnic cleansing, majoritarian fundamentalism and clandestine nuclear trade, India said in a scathing response on Friday, slamming Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s “incessant rant” and “venom” in the UN General Assembly.

“This august forum witnessed a new low on its 75th anniversary. The leader of Pakistan called for those who incite hate and violence to be outlawed. But as he went on, we were left wondering, was he referring to himself?” First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Mijito Vinito said.

The strong rebuttal came after Khan spoke about India’s internal affairs, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, during his pre-recorded video statement at the high-level General Debate. Vinito, who was sitting at India’s seat in the UN General Assembly hall for the debate, walked out when Khan started his usual “diatribe” about India.

“This hall heard the incessant rant of someone who had nothing to show for himself, who had no achievements to speak of and no reasonable suggestion to offer to the world. Instead, we saw lies, misinformation, war mongering and malice spread through this Assembly,” the young Indian diplomat said.

Slamming Pakistan for its record as a nation, Vinito said, “The only crowning glory that this country has to show to the world for the last 70 years is terrorism, ethnic cleansing, majoritarian fundamentalism and clandestine nuclear trade.” Alluding to the “stellar record” of Pakistan, he said this is the country that has the “dubious distinction” of hosting the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the United Nations, a reference to terror masterminds such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) head Masood Azhar.

“This is the same country that provides pension to dreaded and listed terrorists out of state funds. The leader whom we heard today is the same person who referred to terrorist Osama bin Laden as a martyr in Pakistan Parliament in July,” Vinito said.

He said it was Pakistan that brought genocide to South Asia 39 years ago, when it killed its own people and it was also the country that was “shameless enough” not to offer a sincere apology for the horrors it perpetrated even after so many years. — PTI