Pakistan Now Host To 'Ivy League Of Terrorism': India's Counter At UN

United Nations: In a sharp rejoinder to Nawaz Sharif's speech at the UN on Wednesday, in which he raised the Kashmir protests and glorified terrorist Burhan Wani, India described Pakistan as host to "the Ivy League of terrorism".

"Pakistan channelizes billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against its neighbours," India rebutted in a sharply-worded take-down at the UN.

"The land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism. It attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the world. The effect of its toxic curriculum is felt across the globe," a senior diplomat at India's UN mission, Eenam Gambhir, said in her statement.

"With the approval of authorities, many terrorist organisations raise funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistan's international obligations," she said, adding that India and others in the region are facing Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, "the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region."

Exercising India's Right of Reply to what she called the Pakistan Prime Minister's "long tirade" on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Ms Gambhir said: "The worst violation of human rights is terrorism. When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime."

Terrorists and their leaders continue to roam freely in Pakistan and operate with state support, she said, in a reference to Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Masood Azhar and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.

Speaking on the 9/11 attacks, she said: "The world has not yet forgotten that the trail of that dastardly attack led all the way to Abbottabad in Pakistan."  

India has directly blamed Pakistan for the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri in which 18 soldiers were killed. At the UN, Pakistan has dodged all questions on the attack.

Ms Gambhir said while Pakistan gave its "hypocritical sermons" at the UN, its envoy in New Delhi was summoned in the context of the attack.

Pakistan's nuclear proliferation record is marked by "deception and deceit," she said, and yet "it talks about restraint, renunciation and peace".

"Similar false promises it has made to us - the international community on terrorism. Perhaps renunciation of lies and self-restraint on threats could be a good place for Pakistan to start," Ms Gambhir said.

Coming heavily on Mr Sharif for glorifying the terrorist Wani, whose killing on July 8 have led to protests in Kashmir, she said "Even today we have heard support by the Prime Minister of Pakistan for a self-acknowledged commander of a known terrorist organisation."

Calling Pakistan a "democracy deficit country", India said the country practises terrorism on its own people. "It extends support to extremist groups, it suppresses minorities and women and denies basic human rights including through draconian laws."

Voicing India's firm resolve to protect all its citizens from all acts of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, Ms Gambhir said "We cannot and will not allow terrorism to prevail."