Pak PM’s UNGA speech full of misleading claims, ignores terrorism: Mahesh Sachdev
Former diplomat Mahesh Sachdev and Indian officials slam Shehbaz Sharif's UNGA address for ignoring terrorism and making misleading claims.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's recent address to the United Nations General Assembly has come under heavy fire from Indian diplomats and foreign policy experts. Critics argue that the speech was built on a foundation of duplicity, failing to address Pakistan's role in regional instability and its long-standing connection to terrorism.
Expert slams misleading claims
Former diplomat Mahesh Sachdev expressed sharp disapproval of the Prime Minister's remarks, noting that while the speech was predictable for a Pakistani leader, it was rife with inaccuracies. Speaking to ANI, Sachdev highlighted the glaring contradictions in Sharif's rhetoric.
"He praised some people and criticised others, but overall, there was nothing unexpected in what he said as Pakistan’s Prime Minister. However, some claims were misleading," Sachdev stated. He further noted that Sharif's attempt to portray Pakistan as a peace-loving nation is directly contradicted by the country's strained relationships with India, Iran, and Afghanistan. Sachdev also pointed out that the Prime Minister offered a one-sided perspective on the Indus Waters Treaty and the Kashmir issue, while conveniently ignoring the presence of terrorist groups operating from Pakistani soil.
India delivers a stinging rebuttal
Following the address, India exercised its right of reply at the UNGA, delivering a fierce response to Islamabad's narrative. Indian diplomat Petal Gehlot described Sharif's remarks as “bizarre” and reminded the global assembly of Pakistan's history regarding international terrorism.
Gehlot specifically drew attention to the fact that the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden, was discovered living in close proximity to the Pakistan Army's premier academy. She accused Pakistan of a dangerous double standard, asserting that the nation “claims to uphold security by day and perpetrates terrorism by night.”
Warning of consequences for terror support
India's response was not merely diplomatic but served as a stern warning regarding national security. The Indian delegation reiterated the country's sovereign right to self-defence, referencing the successful Operation Sindoor conducted on May 7 last year. That operation targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the Pahalgam attack that resulted in 26 civilian deaths.
The diplomat warned that continued state-sponsored terrorism would lead to further repercussions, stating: “We demonstrated last year that terrorists will have nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Our right to defend ourselves against terrorism will be exercised.”
Exposing the reality of Pakistan's governance
The Indian rebuttal also sought to dismantle Islamabad's claims regarding human rights and democracy. Gehlot challenged the Prime Minister's focus on Kashmir by redirecting the international community's attention toward the human rights violations occurring within PoK, specifically mentioning the situation in Rawalkot.
India's critique of the Pakistani political system was blunt, describing it as a regime controlled by the military. "Pakistan is the regime of the army, for the army and by the army. Their puppets may change, but the army continues to call the shots," Gehlot remarked.
Furthermore, India countered Sharif's mentions of religious harmony by pointing to the country's treatment of minorities and its reliance on blasphemy laws. Regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, India maintained its stance that the pact will remain in abeyance until Pakistan demonstrates a credible and permanent change in its approach.