India, Pakistan spar at UN

India slammed Pakistan at the 75th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) yesterday saying that the rules and legislation brought in the Jammu and Kashmir are internal affairs of the country after Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan called India's Hindu-nationalist government a sponsor of hatred and prejudice against Islam.

India's response comes a day after Khan had raised the issue of Kashmir at the UN Assembly saying, "Pakistan has always called for a peaceful solution. To this end, India must rescind the measures it has instituted since August 5 in 2019."

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The Indian side was represented by delegate Mijito Vinito, who had earlier walked out of the hall when Imran Khan's pre-recorded statement was played.

"The only dispute left in Kashmir relates to the part of Kashmir that is still under illegal occupation of Pakistan. We call upon Pakistan to vacate all those areas that it is in illegal occupation of," India said.

"This is the same country that provides pensions for dreaded and listed terrorists out of State funds. This is the same leader who called Osama Bin laden a martyr. This is the same country which systematically cleanses the minorities including Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and others through its abusive blasphemy laws and forced religious conversion," he said.

"What should rather be on the agenda of the UN is Pakistan's deep state and its unrelenting political and financial support to terrorist organisations and mercenaries which are a threat to global peace and security. The only crowning glory that this country has to show to the world for the last 70 years is terrorism, ethnic cleansing, majoritarian fundamentalism, and clandestine nuclear trade," India said.

India's response came as a part of its Right of Reply after all the country speeches in the high-level debate of the 75th session of UNGA concluded yesterday.

Addressing the UNGA on Friday, Khan said Islamophobia prevails in India today and threatens the nearly 200 million Muslims who live there.

"The one country in the world today where, I am sad to say, the state sponsors Islamophobia, is India. The reason behind this is RSS ideology that unfortunately rules India today," Khan said in a recorded speech to the UNGA, which is being held virtually amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"They believe that India is exclusive to Hindus and others are not equal citizens."

"There will be no durable peace and stability in South Asia until the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is resolved on the basis of international legitimacy," Khan said.