Stop home-grown terrorists before raising Kashmir issue, India tells Pakistan

India's response came after Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue during the general debate at the 135th Assembly Session of IPU

Describing Pakistan as the "epicentre" of global terrorism, India on Monday asked Pakistan to "set its own house in order" and take action against terror groups instead of "ritually" raking up human rights violations elsewhere.

India, exercising the right of reply after Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue during the general debate at the 135th Assembly Session of IPU, asserted that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so for "eternity".

"We deeply regret the misuse of this august body by Pakistan to make tendentious references about internal matters pertaining to the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir," Lok Sabha MP R K Singh said.

"Let me make it very clear to Pakistan that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so for eternity. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been active participants in the democratic processes at both the central and state levels," he said.

He said the "fundamental reason" for the situation in Kashmir is the cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan.

"Terrorism remains the grossest violation of human rights and Pakistan has the distinction of being the epicentre of global terrorism. In fact, it is the mothership of global terror," he said.

"Internationally proscribed terrorists and terror groups are freely roaming in Pakistan with impunity while the deep State in Pakistan is busy in diverting billions of dollars received as international aid for spreading terrorism globally," he added.

Underlining that the human rights violations in entire Pakistan "cry for the world's attention", he said, "The people of Pakistan, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have become victims of sectarian conflict, terrorism and extreme economic hardship due to Pakistan's authoritarian and discriminatory policies in complete disregard of human rights".

"Given this state of affairs, Pakistan will be well-advised to focus its energies on setting its own house in order and acting against the perpetrators of terrorist attacks on its neighbours instead of ritually raking up alleged human rights violations elsewhere," Singh said.

"Pakistan has raised the issue of UN Security Council resolutions. We would suggest Pakistan to first fulfil its primary obligation under the resolutions to vacate illegal occupation of Pakistan occupied Kashmir," he said.

"We call upon Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of India and refrain from meddling in our internal affairs in any matter," Singh said.