United Nations (New York):
India has slammed Pakistan for sponsoring militancy and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and said Islamabad should not impart lessons to it on democracy and human rights.
Hitting back at Pakistan a day after its Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi harped on giving the Kashmiri people the right to "self-determination through plebiscite", External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said Islamabad must stop its state-sponsored militancy and terrorism in the state.
"Jammu & Kashmir, which is an integral part of India, is the target of Pakistan-sponsored militancy and terrorism. Pakistan must fulfill its solemn commitment of not allowing territory under its control to be used for terrorism directed against India," he said in his firmly worded speech at the 65th UN General Assembly session in New York. (
Read: Krishna's full speech)
Krishna said the "credible and firm action by Pakistan against terrorist groups operating from its soil is in the interest of the region as it is in Pakistan's own interest."
Slamming Qureshi for his remark against Indian security forces, Krishna said, "Pakistan cannot impart lessons to us on democracy and human rights."
He said India was committed to good neighbourly relations with all our neighbours, including Pakistan.
Krishna, however, emphasised that "Pakistan has to live up to its commitment not to allow use of its soil by terrorists acting against India."
This, he said, would significantly help reduce the trust deficit that impedes the development of better bilateral relations between our two countries.