New York, United States

India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Saturday (Sep 28) addressed world leaders at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The top Indian diplomat lashed out at Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for likening the situation in Kashmir to that in Palestine. Jaishankar said Pakistan’s terror policy will never succeed, warning Islamabad of severe consequences for its actions.

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"We heard some bizarre assertions from this very forum (UNGA) yesterday. Let me make India's position very clear. Pakistan's policy of cross-border terrorism will never succeed. And it can have no expectation of impunity. On the contrary, actions will certainly have consequences", Jaishankar said in his speech,” the Indian foreign minister said.

"The issue to be resolved between us is only the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan and, of course, abandonment of Pakistan's long-standing attachment to terrorism", he added.

Jaishankar also said that Pakistan’s “GDP can be measured in terms of radicalisation” and “exports in the form of terrorism".

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"Many countries get left behind due to circumstances beyond their control. But some make conscious choices with disastrous consequences," he added.

Earlier, Pakistan PM Sharif at the UNGA had said that the situation in Kashmir was like that in Palestine, saying people there had "struggled for a century for their freedom and right to self-determination".

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Sharif had also called on India to restore Kashmir’s special rights given under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.

Also read: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s UNGA Kashmir rant falls flat as India hits back, labels speech 'travesty'

The Pakistan PM charged that New Delhi had rejected Islamabad’s idea of a mutual strategic restraint regime. Sharif’s remarks were condemned by India, and Indian envoy Bhavika Mangalanandan rubbished his claims in a response to his speech.

“It has attacked our parliament, our financial capital, Mumbai, marketplaces, and pilgrimage routes. The list is long. For such a country to speak about violence anywhere is hypocrisy at its worst,” she added.

Referring to the ongoing Ukraine war and the escalated conflict in Gaza, the Indian foreign minister at the UNGA said, "Whether it is the war in Ukraine or the conflict in Gaza, the international community seeks urgent solutions. These sentiments must be acknowledged and acted upon."

(With inputs from agencies)