India has strongly rebuked Pakistan at the United Nations for trying to justify cross-border terrorism by portraying it as a “freedom struggle." The Indian delegation called Islamabad’s remarks “doublespeak and hypocrisy," asserting that Pakistan continues to be the “epicentre of global terrorism."
During a discussion at the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee, Pakistan’s representative, Muhammad Jawad Ajmal, claimed that those attacking India were “freedom fighters" exercising their “legitimate right to resist foreign occupation." India’s First Secretary Raghoo Puri dismissed the argument, saying,
“Terrorism is among the gravest of offences that fundamentally violates the core of humanity. It represents the worst of bigotry, violence, intolerance and fear — and terrorists are the worst of the worst in humankind."
Puri said Pakistan’s statement exposed its “doublespeak and hypocrisy," adding, “Pakistan is a well-known epicentre of terrorism, with established links to multiple terror attacks across the world targeting innocent civilians."
He further rejected Pakistan’s attempt to misinterpret international law, noting that the UN’s own conventions and resolutions, including those cited by Islamabad, clearly state that acts of terror cannot be justified under any pretext, whether political, religious or ideological.
Ajmal’s remarks came during an interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism. For years, negotiations on India’s proposal for a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism have stalled because of Pakistan and a handful of nations seeking to classify terrorists as “freedom fighters."
Responding to Pakistan’s claim that UN counterterrorism efforts unfairly single out one religion, Puri said such statements were “futile attempts to take cover of Islamophobia to hide its own atrocities."
He concluded by reminding the committee that “terrorism remains the gravest threat to humanity, and its abettor and aider like Pakistan are the worst violators of human rights."
