Pakistan exposed as rogue state after its defence minister’s confession: India at UN
India has said Pakistan defence minister Khwaja Asif’s unsurprising confession about the country’s history of supporting terror exposed the country as a rogue nation fuelling global terrorism and the world could no longer turn a blind eye to this.
Delivering a firm ‘right of reply’ at a UN event where the Pakistan delegate brought up the Pahalgam terror attack, India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Yojna Patel said: “It is unfortunate that one particular delegation has chosen to misuse and undermine this forum to indulge in propaganda and make baseless allegations against India. The whole world has heard Pakistani defence minister Khwaja Asif admitting and confessing Pakistan’s history of supporting, financing and training terror organisations in a recent TV interview."
She said this open confession surprised no one and “exposed Pakistan as a rogue state fuelling global terrorism and destabilising the region".
X account of Asif suspended in India
The X account of Pakistan defence minister Khwaja Asif has been suspended in India. The suspension followed a formal “legal demand" by the Indian government, X said on its update on the matter.
The account was suspended in the wake of disinformation and fake news being spread through Asif’s official handle. X accounts of some Pakistani journalists are also learnt to have been suspended.
The world could no longer turn a blind eye, the Indian ambassador said at the hybrid launch event for the Victims of Terrorism Association Network (VoTAN) of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism here on Monday when Pakistan’s delegate spoke about the Pahalgam terror attack.
Responding to comments about Pakistan’s history of supporting and funding terrorist outfits, Asif had recently told Sky News, “Well, we have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades, you know, and the West, including Britain."
In her opening remarks at the event, Patel said: “The Pahalgam terrorist attack represents the largest number of civilian casualties since the horrific 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008. Having been a victim of cross-border terrorism for decades, India fully understands the long-lasting impact such acts have on victims, their families and society."
The deputy envoy at the UN added that India deeply appreciated and valued the strong, unequivocal support and solidarity extended by leaders and governments across the world in the wake of the recent terrorist attack at Pahalgam.
“This is a testimony to the international community’s zero tolerance for terrorism," she asserted noting that acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomever committed.
“We reiterate that terrorism in all its forms must be condemned unequivocally," she said, describing the establishment of VoTAN a significant step to create a structured, safe space for victims to be heard and supported. India’s strong rebuke of Pakistan at the UN comes at a time of growing calls to get the country declared a state sponsor of terrorism.
India