Prateek Mathur, Counselor in India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, on Thursday hit back at Pakistan, saying it should first look at its track record of harboring terrorists and providing safe havens.
India’s statement came after Pakistan mentioned Jammu and Kashmir during a special session on Ukraine in the United Nations General Assembly. Calling out Pakistan, Mathur called its reference a provocation which is “regrettable and wrong”.
“I am taking the stage today to say that India has chosen this time not to respond to Pakistan’s mischievous provocation. Prateek Mathur, Counselor in India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, said, “Our advice to the representative of Pakistan is to mention our multiple rights of reply that we have used in the past.”
Mathur on Thursday exercised India’s right of reply after Pakistan’s envoy to the UN Munir Akram referred to Jammu and Kashmir while explaining the vote on the UN General Assembly resolution on Ukraine during the emergency special session.
“Pakistan has only to look at itself and its track record as a state that harbors terrorists and provides safe havens to them and does so with impunity. Mathur said such provocation is particularly deplorable and certainly wrong at a time when after two days of intense discussions, we have all agreed that the path to peace is to resolve conflict and discord. Might be the only way to do it.
Foreign Minister lashed out at Pakistan
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday that he would look at local public sentiment before taking a decision on whether or not to help Pakistan in its present difficulties.
Speaking on the current situation of Pakistan as it is reeling under severe economy collapse and awaits IMF bailout for the 9th time, Jaishankar said that no country will come out of a difficult situation and become a prosperous power if its The core industry is terrorism.
(with PTI inputs)
Also read: Will see local public sentiments before calling for help to Pakistan: Jaishankar