Directly referencing remarks made the previous day, without naming Pakistan, S Jaishankar said that it raised arguments to “normalise terrorism” and affirmed India’s right to self-defence.
Speaking at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that Pakistan is a “serial practitioner of terrorism” and that the country “misrepresented facts” yesterday, referring to their prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif’s address.
Directly referencing remarks made the previous day, without naming Pakistan, Jaishankar said that it raised arguments to “normalise terrorism” and affirmed India’s right to self-defence. He conditioned any normalisation of ties on the cessation of terrorism.
“Yesterday, a serial practitioner of terrorism misrepresented facts before this assembly. Arguments were invoked to normalise terrorism and claim immunity from its consequences. That will not stand. Our right to defend ourselves against terrorism will be exercised. Friendship and goodwill cannot coexist with terrorism, and understandings premised on that will naturally be called into question. It is for the perpetrator of terrorism to mend its ways”, Jaishankar said.
Jaishankar said a persistent threat to peace has been the scourge of terrorism.
“That this could be state-sponsored, with cross-border purpose, makes it a direct affront to the global order. Governments indulging in such practices must be held accountable. There must be no dilution in our zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism. Its financial aspects, in particular, should be exposed and should be countered,” he said.
On Friday, Sharif revisited the May military confrontation, characterising India’s Operation Sindoor as an act of “external aggression” launched under a “false pretext.” He further asserted that Pakistan’s actions were a legitimate exercise of its right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
He then proceeded to praise Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir and praised the armed forces.