Onus on Pakistan to create atmosphere free of terror for talks: India at UN

Counsellor/Legal Adviser at India's Permanent Mission to the UN Dr Kajal Bhat, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, in a strong response said that the onus is on Pakistan to create an atmosphere free of terror for talks, and till then India "will continue to take firm and decisive steps" to respond to cross-border terrorism.

"India desires normal neighbourly relations with all countries including Pakistan, and is committed to addressing outstanding issues, if any, bilaterally and peacefully in accordance with the Simla Agreement and the Lahore declaration," she said.

"However, any meaningful dialogue can be held only in an atmosphere free of terror, hostility and violence. The onus is on Pakistan to create such a conducive atmosphere. Till then India will continue to take firm and decisive steps to respond to cross-border terrorism," she said.

“I'm constrained to take the floor once again to respond to some frivolous remarks made by the representative of Pakistan earlier today. This is not the first time the representative of Pakistan has misused platforms provided by the UN to propagate false and malicious propaganda against my country and seeking in vain to divert the world's attention from the sad state of his country where terrorists enjoy a free pass while the lives of ordinary people, especially those belonging to the minority communities are turned upside down," Bhat said.

Her response came after Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram raked up the Jammu and Kashmir issue in the UN Security Council.

Bhat said that Pakistan has an "established history and policy of harbouring, aiding and actively supporting terrorists’.

“This is a country which has been globally recognised as one openly supporting, training, financing and arming terrorists as a matter of state policy. It holds the ignoble record of hosting the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the UN Security Council," she said.

“The entire Union Territory of J&K, and Ladakh were, are and will always be an inalienable part of India, this includes areas that are under illegal occupation of Pakistan. We call upon Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation," she said.