September 24, 2022
3 mins read

Peace possible if Pakistan comes clean, ends terror: India

Indian diplomat disputed Pak PM’s claims about wanting peace with New Delhi pointing out that Islamabad’s actions do not match his words, reports Arul Louis

 Indian diplomat Mijito Vinito said that peace is possible in the sub-continent only when Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism, “comes clean” and ends persecution of minorities.

Replying to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s attacks on India at the high-level UN General Assembly meeting on Friday, Vinito disputed his claims about wanting peace with New Delhi pointing out that Islamabad’s actions do not match his words.

He zoomed in on Islamabad’s history of terrorism and said: “A polity that claims it seeks peace with its neighbours would never sponsor cross-border terrorism, nor would it shelter planners of the horrific Mumbai terrorist attack, disclosing their existence only under pressure from the international community.”

Hafiz Saeed, leader of the Lashkar-e-Taiba who masterminded the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack in which about 175 people died, is living openly in Pakistan, as is another operative involved in the attack, Sajid Mir.

A country that truly seeks peace “would not make unjustified and untenable territorial claims against neighbours, it would not covet their lands and seek to illegally integrate them with its own”, Vinito said referring to Pakistan’s continued occupation of parts of Kashmir in violation of Security Council Resolution 47 of 1948, which ordered it to withdraw its troops and nationals from there.

Vinito, who is from the 2010 Indian Foreign Service batch and is a first secretary in India’s UN mission, drove his stinging responses home with a calm demeanour.

Exercising India’s right of reply, he countered Sharif’s claims about the treatment of minorities in India and held a mirror to Pakistan’s own record.

“It is not just about the neighbourhood that we have heard false claims today, it is about human rights, about minority rights and about basic decencies.

“When young women in the thousands from the minority community are abducted as an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure), what can we conclude about the underlying mindset?” he asked.

According to the Human Rights Council of Pakistan, Hindu and Christian girls are victims of kidnapping and forced marriages.

“The desire for peace, security and progress in the Indian subcontinent is real. It is also widely shared and it can be realized,” Vinito said.

“That will surely happen when cross-border terrorism ceases, when governments come clean with the international community and with their own people, when minorities are not persecuted, and not least when we recognize these realities before this Assembly.”

In his speech at the Assembly, Sharif had claimed that he wanted peace and offered to speak to India’s leaders, but only after New Delhi gives in to his demands.

The premier said he wanted to turn the page on the 20th century and take on the challenges of the 21st century but quickly went back 75 years raking up the Kashmir dispute, attacking the withdrawal of special constitutional status for that territory.

He catalogued what he said were India’s actions against the Muslim minority.

Saima Saleem, a counsellor in Pakistan’s UN mission, who responded to Vinito, repeated almost verbatim a lot from Sharif’s speech.

She directed many of her remarks against the RSS and also strung together isolated incidents and remarks by fringe characters to make them appear as state policy.

In a bid to stir up Muslims, she brought up the remarks made in a TV programme about Prophet Mohammed by a former BJP functionary but did not say that she is now facing criminal charges.

READ MORE: ‘Looking for peace with neighbours’: Shehbaz rakes up Kashmir at UN

Previous Story

‘Looking for peace with neighbours’: Shehbaz rakes up Kashmir at UN

Next Story

Quad FMs meet on UNGA sidelines

Latest from -Top News

Trump Targets BRICS Allies with New Tariff

This move coincides with the ongoing BRICS summit being held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil…reports Asian Lite News US President Donald Trump has announced that an additional 10 per cent tariff will

BRICS Endorses India’s Stand on Terror

The treaty proposed by India within the UN framework aims to provide a comprehensive legal basis for combating terrorism….reports Asian Lite News The leaders’ joint statement, issued after the 17th BRICS summit

BRICS Slams US Tariff Hikes

The leaders criticised developed nations for using environmental issues to justify trade restrictions on developing countries….reports Asian Lite News Rio de Janeiro, July 7 (IANS) Embroiled in a trade war launched by

US Tariffs Pushed to August Amid Talks

In April, Trump announced a base tariff of 10 per cent on most of America’s trading partners and thereafter additional duties ranging up to 50 per cent….reports Asian Lite News US President

Indonesia Joins BRICS Bloc

This year’s BRICS Summit saw an expanded format, reflecting the grouping’s growing relevance in international affairs….reports Asian Lite News Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally welcomed Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto into the BRICS
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Former Balochistan chief justice gunned down in Pakistan

In response, the police cordoned off the area and began

Sheikh Khaled’s India Visit Deepens Ties

The visit marks a major stride in the ongoing development