India's Right of Reply during the General Debate of 71st session UNGA on Sep 21, 2016

Mr. President,

I take the floor to exercise the rightof reply in response to the long tirade of Pakistan about the situation in theIndian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The worst violation of human rights isterrorism. When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime.

What my country and our otherneighbours are facing today is Pakistan’s long-standing policy of sponsoringterrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region.

Mr. President,

Only last week, the internationalcommunity honored the memory of thousands of innocent victims from around theworld, who lost their lives not far from here in New York fifteen years ago ina most horrifying terror attack.

The world has not yet forgotten thatthe trail of that dastardly attack led all the way to Abbottabad in Pakistan.

The land of Taxila, one of the greatestlearning centres of ancient times, is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism.It attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world.

The effect of its toxic curriculum arefelt across the globe.

It is ironical therefore that we haveseen today the preaching of human rights and ostensible support forself-determination by a country which has established itself as the globalepicentre of terrorism.

Mr. President,

Shortly before Pakistan gave itshypocritical sermons in this august house today, its envoy in New Delhi wassummoned in the context of the most recent of the terror attacks in Uri thatclaimed 18 Indian lives. That terrorist attack is part of a trail of continuousflow of terrorists trained and armed by our neighbour and tasked to carry outterrorist attacks in my country.

What we see in Pakistan, Mr. President,is a terrorist state, which channelizes billions of dollars, much of itdiverted from international aid, to training, financing and supportingterrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours.

Terrorist entities and their leaders,including many designated by the UN, continue to roam its streets freely andoperate with State support. With the approval of authorities, many terroristorganizations raise funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistan’sinternational obligations.

Mr. President,

Even today we have heard support by thePrime Minister of Pakistan for a self-acknowledged commander of a knownterrorist organization Hizbul Mujahideen.

Pakistan is a country with a democracydeficit. In fact it practices terrorism on its own people. It extends supportto extremist groups, it suppresses minorities and women and denies basic humanrights including through draconian laws.

As a democracy India is firmly resolvedto protect all our citizens from all acts of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Wecannot and will not allow terrorism to prevail.

Finally, Mr President, we have heardPakistan, whose nuclear proliferation record is marked by deception and deceit,talking about restraint, renunciation and peace.

Similar false promises it has made to us- the international community – on terrorism. Perhaps renunciation of lies andself-restraint on threats could be a good place for Pakistan to start.

I thank you Mr President.