India-Pakistan face-off at UN over terrorism, Kulbhushan Jadhav

India urged the UN Security Council to focus on challenges posed by terrorism emanating from the safe havens from across the border.

India-Pakistan face-off at UN over terrorism, Kulbhushan Jadhav

UNITED NATIONS: India on Friday lashed out Pakistan for growing terrorism adding that the neighbouring country needs to change its "mindset" of differentiating between good and bad terrorists. Pakistan, on the other hand, hit back raking the up the issue of Indian death-row prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav. 

India had urged the UN Security Council to focus on challenges posed by terrorism emanating from the safe havens from across the border.

"Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Afghanistan on December 24, 2015 to inaugurate the Parliament building, stopped over in Lahore, Pakistan. Unfortunately, these visits were followed by a heinous and barbaric terrorist attack on the Pathankot airbase on January 1, 2016, perpetrated and planned by the very same mindsets which attack the spirit of Afghanistan every day," Indian Ambassador to the UN Syed Akbaruddin said.

"These mind sets differentiate between good and bad terrorists. These mindsets refuse to see reason in peace. They are mindsets that are reluctant to join hands in moving the region forward to build a shared future for our people and our youth. These mindsets, Mr. President, need to change," Akbaruddin added. 

Responding to India's criticism, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN Maleeha Lodhi raised the case of Jadhav, who was caught in March last year and sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged spying.

"Those who talk of changing mindset need to look within, at their own record of subversion against my country as our capture of an Indian spy has proven beyond doubt," Lodhi said.

When the US and Afghanistan also vetoed on regarding continued terror safe havens in Pakistan, Lodhi stayed firm on her denial.

"Afghanistan and its partners, especially the United States need to address these challenges inside Afghanistan rather than shifts the onus for ending the conflict on to others. Those who imagine sanctuaries outside really need a reality check," she said.

There were no takers for Lodhi's claims that there are no terrorist safe havens inside Pakistan. None of the more than two dozen speakers came out in support of the Pakistani argument in this regard.