India has accused Pakistan of losing control of terror groups that it said were created and supported by the country, asserting that the same terror infrastructure has now begun to pose a threat within Pakistan.
Exercising India’s Right of Reply at the UN General Assembly’s Sixth Committee, First Secretary at India’s UN Mission Raghoo Puri said Pakistan had sought to portray itself as both a frontline state in the fight against terrorism and a victim of terrorism while concealing the role attributed to it in supporting militant groups.
“Pakistan has presented itself as a frontline state in combating terrorism and as a victim, while masking the fact that the Frankenstein’s monster the Pakistani state has created and lost control over have moved from wreaking havoc in neighbouring countries to doing the same in Pakistan,” Puri said.
His remarks came in response to comments by Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative Usman Jadoon during proceedings of the Sixth Committee, which deals with legal affairs.
Puri referred to recent remarks by Pakistan’s Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz about the threat posed by terrorism within the country. He also cited a 2018 interview by former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in which Sharif had referred to militant organisations operating from Pakistan and questioned whether they should be allowed to cross the border and carry out attacks in Mumbai.
Puri said these statements highlighted contradictions in Pakistan’s position on terrorism.
“You cannot run with the hares and hunt with the hounds. Reality never works like that,” he said.
India’s representative also rejected Pakistan’s claims regarding the outcome of Operation Sindoor, India’s military response following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Puri criticised what he described as Pakistan’s attempt to portray the operation as a military victory, saying Islamabad’s claims were part of a broader campaign of misinformation and disinformation.
India also raised the issue of Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorist groups and questioned its handling of individuals designated internationally for terrorism.
Referring to Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, Puri said Pakistan had announced an increased reward for information leading to his arrest while questioning how authorities could be unaware of his whereabouts.
He pointed to public reports and statements attributed to Azhar regarding Operation Sindoor, arguing that Pakistan’s claims about efforts to apprehend him raised questions about his continued ability to operate.
Puri also recalled the 9/11 attacks in the United States, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the Pahalgam terror attack, stressing that the international community remained aware of the consequences of terrorism and the need to hold perpetrators and facilitators accountable.
“The world has not forgotten 9/11, and where its perpetrators, including Osama bin Laden, were caught,” he said.
He added, “The world has not forgotten 26/11. The world has not forgotten Pahalgam.”
On the issue of religiously motivated terrorism, Puri referred to the Pahalgam attack and said the victims were targeted on the basis of their religion.
“The victims in Pahalgam were not asked about their political orientation; they were asked about their religion,” he said.
India also called for stronger international action against states that support or provide safe havens to terrorist organisations.
Puri said allowing terrorist groups to operate under political protection undermines international commitments and denies justice to victims of terrorism.
He further criticised Pakistan’s repeated statements at international forums, saying that greater focus should be placed on countering terrorism rather than what he described as narrative-building and disinformation.
“Pakistan believes in the circular economy of words and narratives,” Puri said, adding that greater efforts should instead be directed towards combating terrorism.
India’s remarks come ahead of the next Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary and working group meetings, scheduled to be held in Paris from October 26 to 30. The FATF is the global body responsible for setting standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
The exchange at the UN comes amid continuing diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan over terrorism and security issues.
-ANI
