Pakistan hands over dossiers against India to UN chief

Pakistan suggests the entire world is united in unequivocally condemning terrorism, except India

ISLAMABAD: After weeks of speculation, Pakistan handed over on Friday dossiers containing evidence of Indian involvement in terrorism and fomenting instability in the country to UN chief Ban Ki-moon.

“The dossiers include details of Indian interference and support for terrorism in Balochistan and Karachi as well as its security and intelligence agencies’ link with the TTP especially in FATA,” said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

Read: ‘Talks sans terror’: Delhi rebuffs Nawaz peace plan, unveils own

Counselor Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations Bilal Ahmad confirmed the handing over of the dossiers while responding to a question regarding accusations leveled by India in reaction to Prime Minister’s Nawaz Sharif’s address to the UN General Assembly.

In a stinging reply, Pakistan hit back at India by suggesting the entire world is united in unequivocally condemning terrorism, except India.

“This country is insensitive to the tragic human dimension of terrorism. India seems to suggest that acts of terrorism in Pakistan are acceptable. By doing so, India in fact seeks to mask its own support and sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan,” the Pakistani diplomat said.

Read: Demilitarising Kashmir not the answer, de-terrorising Pakistan is: India

India has also failed to bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorism against innocent civilians in the 2007 Samjhota Express bombings. The decision of the Indian government not to challenge the bail granted to Swami Aseemanand, the main accused in the case, raises serious doubts about India’s willingness to convict its nationals involved in terror incidents against the Muslims, the diplomat added.

“This is a continuation of the sad saga of the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat,” Bilal regretted.

Rejecting Indian claims on Kashmir dispute, the Pakistani diplomat said India’s attempts to deny its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir is a travesty of history.

To perpetuate its occupation, India has deployed over seven hundred thousand security forces in Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir. Only the occupier would oppose the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions that promised self-determination to the people of the disputed State of Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

India on Thursday rejected a four-point peace plan for Kashmir proposed by Pakistan but said talks among officials of both countries on terrorism that collapsed in August should be revived.

Read: UNGA address: Nawaz offers four-point peace roadmap to India

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced his proposal at the annual United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, saying the two nuclear-armed countries should formalise a ceasefire in Kashmir and take steps to demilitarise the divided region.

India issued a swift rebuttal, accusing Pakistan of claiming to be the primary victim of terrorism while "in truth, it is actually a victim of its own policy of breeding and sponsoring terrorists."

On Thursday, Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj told the General Assembly that India remained open to dialogue, "but talks and terror cannot go together."

"We don't need four points, we need just one: Give up terrorism and let us sit down and talk," she said.

Read: Nawaz-Kerry meeting: Pakistan conveys concern over Indian ceasefire violations

Swaraj said the talks between national security advisers on all issues related to terrorism should be held, as well as an early meeting of senior military officials to address the situation on the border.