Abandon the dream as J&K will remain integral part of India, Sushma tells Pakistan at UNGA

New York, Sept 26 (IBNS): As the tension between India and Pakistan is escalating, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday issued a strong note of warning to her neighbouring country, saying that Islamabad should "abandon the dream" of using terror to obtain authority in Jammu and Kashmir.

She said Jammu and Kashmir is "an integral part of India and will always remain so."

Addressing the 71st United Nations General Assembly here, Swaraj took up the most critically important subject of terrorism, spoke of the blood and tear of victims from Paris to Pathankot and Brussels to Uri.

She said: "Terrorism is the biggest violation of human rights, a crime against humanity itself. But we must ask - who benefits?"

In a sharp attack to Pakistan over the recent Uri attack, which left 18 Indian soldiers martyred in J&K, Swaraj said: "Those who seed extreme ideologies, reap a bitter harvest. This germ of evil has grown into a hydra-headed monster."

"In our midst, there are nations that still speak the language of terrorism, that nurture it, peddle it, and export it," she said in a scathing attack to the neighboring country.

Responding to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Swaraj said: "Those accusing others of human rights violations would do well to introspect and see their own egregious abuses."

Reiterating the concern of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and in a direct hit to Islamabad, Swaraj said: "The brutality against the Baloch people represents the worst form of State oppression."

"What pre-conditions, Mr. PM? We have, in fact, attempted a paradigm of friendship without precedent," noted Swaraj.

Speaking on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, a state that has been a victim of Pakistan's provocation time and again, Swaraj said: "My firm advice to Pakistan is: abandon this dream. Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so."

This comes after India witnessed a major militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri town on Sept 18 which left 18 soldiers martyred.

Concluding her address, Swaraj made a global appeal of combating terrorism through collective effort.

"We won't be able to win against terrorism by making distinctions between your problems and mine," she said.

Following her speech, Swaraj wa heavily "complimented" by various delegates.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also appreciated Swaraj for her 'firm, effective & fine articulation' of a wide range of global issues at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly.

Modi tweeted: "Congrats to EAM @SushmaSwaraj for a firm, effective & fine articulation of a wide range of global issues at #UNGA."

Image: Vikas Swarup Twitter page