Mahaveer Singhvi said that Pakistan has integrated terrorism as a state vehicle.
Washington:
India criticized Pakistan on Thursday for sponsoring cross-border terrorism, saying the neighboring country has “integrated” terrorism as a state vehicle.
Mahaveer Singhvi, MEA Co-Secretary for Counterterrorism, speaking at the ONUCT Virtual Counterterrorism Week, said terrorism is the most egregious affront to the enjoyment of the inalienable right to life and to live in peace and security.
“It constitutes a serious threat to economic and social development, undermines democracy and endangers the rule of law. It is an attack on the freedom of thought, expression and association. acts of terrorism violate the rights of individual victims, they also deeply affect the enjoyment of a range of rights by the families of the victims and society at large, “said Singhvi.
Singhvi said that any terrorist incident disproportionately affects the human rights of women, girls and children.
“Therefore, gender and age-sensitive measures must be integrated to meet the short, medium and long-term needs of the most vulnerable groups of victims of terrorism. Protecting the rights of children and young people, in particular their right to education, is essential to prevent radicalization and indoctrination of terrorist ideologies, “he said.
Striking in Pakistan to sponsor terrorism, Singhvi said: “This is an opportunity to reiterate our collective determination to protect and uphold human rights. It is unfortunate that Pakistan, the sponsor of the Cross-Border Terrorism, and the world-renowned and pernicious head of terrorism, has once again used this forum to spread his discredited tale and make malicious and scandalous allegations against India. “
“While the whole world, including India, has taken proactive steps to promote human rights and build resilience against terrorism, Pakistan has always viewed terrorism as a vehicle of state,” said said Mr. Singhvi.
He also reiterated that Pakistan continues to provide military, financial and logistical support to cross-border terrorism, but has deprived the victims of terrorism of their fundamental right to justice by failing to act on the concrete evidence shared by India during several terrorist attacks, including the serial bombings of Mumbai in 1993 and the terrorist attack on Mumbai in 2008.
“The perpetrators of these heinous crimes were proscribed by the UNSC 1267 committee but continue to enjoy the hospitality of the state in Pakistan,” he noted.
Highlighting the plight of minorities in Pakistan, Singhvi said: “Pakistan’s attempt to pose as a defender of human rights and egalitarianism is ridiculous given its history of systemic persecution of its minorities , including Christians, Ahmadiyyas, Sikhs, Hindus, Shiites, Pashtuns, Hazaras, Sindhis and Balochis. Through draconian blasphemy laws, conversions and forced marriages and extrajudicial executions. “
He also stressed that the Indian constitution guarantees equal rights to all faiths and beliefs and that the country has a civilizational ethic of inclusiveness.
“India has a civilization ethic of inclusiveness, tolerance and acceptance. The philosophy of” Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam “, the world is a family, permeates every aspect of Indian life. Our cultural, linguistic and religious diversity is our strength and our constitutional guarantees Pakistan can repeat its Goebbelsian lie a thousand times, but that cannot change the fact that minorities feel secure and empowered in India, “he said.
Singhvi said Jammu and Kashmir has been, is and will continue to be an integral part of India and that Pakistan should stop coveting it.
“What Pakistan describes is in fact state-sponsored cross-border terrorism. India reiterates that despite the continuation of the proxy war and state-sponsored cross-border terrorism against the people of Jammu -and Kashmir, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have rested their confidence in Indian democracy, “he said.
Referring to terrorism as the worst form of human rights violation, Singhvi said: “Before preaching to others, Pakistan must remember that terrorism is the worst form of human rights violation. The world does not need lessons on the human rights of a country whose citizens and minorities have never enjoyed true democracy. “
“The least Pakistan can do, therefore, is to look into its own dire situation and put its house in order before pointing the finger at others and spitting venom against the democratically elected Indian government and its people. leaders, “he added.
