UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has strongly condemned India’s state terrorism and called for meaningful dialogue to resolve long-standing issues, especially the Kashmir dispute. Saima Saleem, Counsellor on Human Rights at Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, made this statement during a UN Security Council open debate.
Responding to India’s remarks, Saima Saleem accused New Delhi of spreading lies and using diversionary tactics. She said no amount of denial can hide the truth. According to her, India continues to kill and injure innocent people in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
She went further and claimed that India not only shows aggression against Pakistan but also sponsors terrorism and political killings within Pakistan and beyond. Saima pointed to incidents in Canada and the United States. She reminded the council that India was linked to the murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar and a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
The Pakistani representative also criticised India’s unilateral move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty after the Pahalgam attack. She described it as a dangerous act of turning water into a tool of war. These rivers, she said, are the lifeline for 240 million Pakistanis. Using water as a weapon is inhumane and violates global norms, she added.
Touching upon the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, where at least 26 tourists were killed, Saima Saleem said India blamed Pakistan without offering any proof. She added that instead of demanding an independent inquiry, India used the tragedy to justify cross-border assaults. These attacks later escalated to missile strikes inside Pakistan, sparking a brief conflict.
The hostilities between the nuclear neighbours ended only after U.S. President Donald Trump intervened, she said.
Between May 6 and 10, India launched unprovoked strikes on Pakistani civilians, Saima claimed. These assaults killed 40 people, including 7 women and 15 children. Over 120 others were wounded, among them 10 women and 27 children. She called it a blatant form of state terrorism aimed at terrorising the population.
She further alleged that India continues to fund and arm terror outfits in Pakistan. These include the TTP, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and the Majeed Brigade. Their goal, she said, is to target civilians and destabilise Pakistan.
A recent example was the May 21 bombing of a school bus in Khuzdar, Balochistan. Innocent children were killed and many more were injured in this cowardly attack.
Saima Saleem ended her address by urging India to stop all forms of state-sponsored terrorism. She said India must end its brutal campaign in Kashmir and return to the path of peace. She demanded full compliance with international laws, the UN Charter, and existing bilateral agreements.
She called for a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue in line with the Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
