External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is set to address the UN General Assembly with all eyes set on her speech in which she is expected to deliver a stinging response to Nawaz Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir. Swaraj arrived on Saturday afternoon and will address the UN general debate.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is set to address the UN General Assembly with all eyes set on her speech in which she is expected to deliver a stinging response to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir. Swaraj arrived on Saturday afternoon and will address the UN general debate tomorrow morning.
"Leading India's delegation to the 71st UNGA. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. Swaraj is expected to give a stinging response to Sharif's UN General Assembly (UNGA) speech, in which he had focused elaborately on Kashmir.
India's strong Right of Reply to his speech called Pakistan home to the "Ivy League of Terrorism" and a "terrorist state" that commits "war crimes" by using terrorism as an instrument of state policy. Outlining India's focus for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, India's envoy to the UN Syed Akbaruddin had said that terrorism is the "primary concern" for India as well as for nations across the world.
He listed reform of the UN Security Council, sustainable development, climate change and peacekeeping as other priorities for India in the current UNGA session.
Swarup told reporters here Friday that "the whole world and the entire nation" is waiting to hear from Swaraj who will deliver India's "vision document" for the 71st UNGA. "We are all looking forward to that," he had said.
He, however had not elaborated on elements of Swaraj's address but said "the whole world and the entire country is waiting to hear what the External Affairs Minister has to say but I think the broad themes that Akbaruddin has outlined are definitely going to be a part of our presentation at this most important forum in the international community".
Swarup said one can also expect "a continued focus from India on the theme of terrorism which is today undoubtedly the single biggest challenge to international peace and security".
Gambhir's opening gambit
There’s no doubt Indo-Pak relations have hit a new low since the Uri attack. This was epitomised by Eenam Gambhir's sharp reubutal to Pak PM Sharif’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly where she branded Pakistan the ‘host to the Ivy League of terrorism’. Exercising India's Right of Reply to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "long tirade" about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir made a strong rebuttal. "What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region," she said.
Gambhir said India sees in Pakistan "a terrorist state" which channelizes billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. She noted that the land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, "is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism" and attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world.
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