India Gives Shehbaz Sharif Reality Check at UNGA, Exposes PoJK Reality, Terrorism and ‘Army Rule’

India launched a sharp counterattack at the United Nations General Assembly after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif once again raised Jammu Kashmir during his address and described Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein.”

 

 

 

Exercising India’s Right of Reply, First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Petal Gahlot, rejected Pakistan’s references to Jammu Kashmir and said the Union Territory is an integral and inalienable part of India. Turning the focus towards Pakistan-occupied Jammu  Kashmir, she said, “But if we must talk about Kashmir, let us turn our attention to the Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir. Ask the people of Rawalkot about the wanton killings, the brutal violence and the denial of basic rights that they have long experienced…”

 

 

 

Gahlot took a direct swipe at Pakistan’s claims of democracy and human rights, saying, “We heard some hypocritical homilies about democratic rights and human values from a regime whose capital at this very moment is being fortified against its own people. And that, Mr. President, is happening because this is a regime of the army, by the army, and for the army.” She added, “Their puppets may come and go, but let us have no illusion about who calls the shots. The reality of Pakistan is expressed in its 27th Amendment and the litelong immunity granted to its real ruler.”

 

Taking aim at Pakistan’s record on terrorism and minority rights, she said, “The views we heard emanate from those with a long record of bigotry and hatred. They claim to uphold security during the day; they actually carry out terrorism at night. This assembly was subjected to remarks about religious intolerance from the very regime whose mainstay is blasphemy laws. The world knows how minorities are treated in Pakistan. No pious platitude can mislead it.”

 

The Indian response came after Sharif raised the Kashmir issue in his UNGA address, calling it Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and accusing India of human rights violations in Jammu Kashmir.