India slams Pak PM Sharif for calling Burhan Wani a symbol of 'Kashmiri intifada'

Hitting out at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for 'glorifying' slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani at the United Nations, India has asserted that his statement only proves Islamabad's attachment to terrorism.

Taking to Twitter, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that Sharif glorifying Wani in his address at the United Nations General Assembly, which is one of UN's highest forum, shows Pakistan's continued connection with terrorism.

"PM Sharif at #UNGA says India poses unacceptable conditions to dialogue. India's only condition is an end to terrorism. This not acceptable? Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA in complete denial of Uri terror attack. 19 infiltration attempts stopped at LoC this year. Indigenous??!!," Swarup said in a series of tweets.

Earlier in his address at the 71st UNGA in New York, Sharif invoked Wani, who was slain by the Indian security forces in an encounter, and branded him as a young leader saying that he has become the face of the Kashmiri movement.

"Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement, led by Kashmiris," said Sharif.

He said Pakistan fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination, as promised to them by several Security Council resolutions and urged the United Nations to intervene and assist in solving the Kashmir dispute.

"The Security Council has called for the exercise of the right to self- determination by the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a free and fair plebiscite held under UN auspices. The Security Council must honour its commitments by implementing its own decisions," he said.

He further demanded an independent inquiry and a UN fact finding mission to investigate the situation in Kashmir.

Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani (22) was killed by the Indian security forces in an encounter on July 8. He was prolific on social media and used the same to reach out to the youth while spreading the message of jihad.

His killing triggered massive protests in Kashmir that injured hundreds of civilians as well as security personnel.