India, Pakistan spar over terrorism
WAR OF WORDS After being accused of supporting terrorists, the neighbouring country retorts by bringing Jadhav issue at UN Council
UNITED NATIONS: Stung by accusations from India and the US of supporting terrorists, Pakistan brought up the issue of Indian death row prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav at the UN Security Council to contend that other countries were behind subversive activities on its soil.
India’s envoy to the UN, Syed Akbaruddin, said during a Security Council meeting on Afghanistan that Pakistan needs to change its mindset of drawing a distinction between good and bad terrorists. He said India is a victim of the same Pakistani mindset that promotes terror attacks within Afghanistan.
Akbaruddin also called on the Security Council to focus on the challenge of terrorism emanating from safe havens located across the border in Pakistan.
While responding to India’s charges, Pakistan’s envoy to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi, said: “Those who speak of changing mindsets need to look within, at their own record of subversion against my country as our capture of an Indian spy has amply demonstrated and proved beyond any shadow of doubt.”
Though Lodhi did not name anyone, it was clear she was referring to Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court last year after being accused of involvement in spying and subversive activities.
India has dismissed Pakistan’s contention that Jadhav was arrested in Balochistan in March 2016, saying the former naval officer was kidnapped from the Iranian port of Chaba- har. The International Court of Justice stayed Jadhav’s execution last year after it was approached by India.
Earlier, the US told the Security Council it wants to work with Pakistan but the relationship cannot be successful if Islamabad continues to provide safe haven to terror groups. The US insisted Pakistan should join the efforts seeking a resolution to the conflict in Afghanistan.
“We seek to work cohesively and effectively with Pakistan, but cannot be successful if the status quo, one where terrorist organisations are given sanctuary inside the country’s borders, is allowed to continue,” US deputy secretary of state John Sullivan told the meeting.
Afghan deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai reiterated that there were terrorist safe havens on Pakistani soil.
But Lodhi dismissed these charges: “Indeed, with its safe havens inside the country (Afghanistan) and income from the narcotics trade, the insurgency does not really need any outside assistance or support centres to sustain its efforts.”
› Those who speak of changing mindsets need to look within, at their own record of subversion against my country as our capture of an Indian spy has amply demonstrated and proved beyond any shadow of doubt MALEEHA LODHI, Pakistan’s envoy to the UN