Daijiworld Media Network - New York

New York, Sep 26: India exercised its right of reply at the United Nations General Assembly after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif raised issues including terrorism and Jammu and Kashmir in his address, with First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Petal Gahlot rejecting Pakistan’s remarks and raising questions over its record on democracy, human rights and minority rights.

Responding to Sharif’s speech, Gahlot accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism and said India’s right to defend itself against terrorism would continue to be exercised. “Terrorism by Pakistan will have consequences,” she said.

Gahlot said the UN General Assembly should assess Pakistan and its policies on their substance rather than what she described as claims made by its representative. She also accused Pakistan of using “terrorism, deceit and duplicity”, saying such an approach would not benefit the country or the wider world.

On Jammu and Kashmir, Gahlot reiterated India’s position that the Union Territory is an “integral and inalienable part” of the country. She said that if Kashmir was to be discussed, attention should instead be directed towards Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where she alleged “wanton killings, the brutal violence and the denial of basic rights”.

Gahlot also responded to Pakistan’s references to democratic rights and human values, describing them as “hypocritical homilies”. She questioned Pakistan’s political system and alleged that the military remained the decisive authority in the country despite changes in its political leadership.

Referring to Pakistan’s 27th Amendment, Gahlot also criticised what she described as “lifelong immunity” granted to the country’s “real ruler”. Her remarks were part of India’s broader response to Pakistan’s comments on democratic governance.

Gahlot further rejected Pakistan’s references to religious intolerance, pointing to what she described as the country’s record on minorities and blasphemy laws. She said Pakistan could not use “pious platitudes” to divert attention from the treatment of minorities.

The Indian diplomat also referred to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States and recalled that Osama bin Laden had lived in Pakistan near the country’s premier military academy. She described Pakistan’s remarks at the General Assembly as “bizarre” and questioned its presentation of itself before the international community.

Gahlot’s remarks marked India’s formal right of reply to Sharif’s address at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.