Pakistan glorifies terrorists: Sushma Swaraj at UNGA

United Nations: In a direct attack on neighbouring nation over cross-border terror activities, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj snubbed Pakistan by saying they glorify terrorists and refused to see the blood of innocents.

“Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behavior, not of human rights. Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents,” said Ms Swaraj at the 73rd United National General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

She also said, “In our case, terrorism is bred not in some faraway land, but across our border. Our neighbour’s expertise is not restricted to spawning grounds for terrorism; it is also an expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity.”

The minister also urged for early passage of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). “In 1996, India proposed a draft document on CCIT at the United Nations. Till today, that draft has remained a draft, because we cannot agree on a common language. On the one hand, we want to fight terrorism; on the other, we cannot define it,” she said.

On dialogues with Pakistan, the minister added, “We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of their behavior.” (UNI)