Glorification of terrorists unacceptable: Sushma Swaraj

The glorification of terrorists is unacceptable and Pakistan must immediately stop supporting cross-border terrorism and infiltration, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

She also asked the neighbouring country to desist from making any further attempts to interfere in India's internal affairs.

In a written reply to a starred question, Swaraj said the Indian government has reached out to other countries to counter the Pakistani propaganda.

She said that in the wake of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani's death in an encounter on July 8, senior functionaries of the Pakistan government briefed in Islamabad envoys of several prominent countries, including China, France, Russia, Britain and the US, apart from international organisations such as European Union, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Association of South East Asian Countries (ASEAN).

Pakistan also apparently addressed letters to the UN Secretary General, President of UN Security Council, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Secretary General of OIC, urging the international community to address the alleged human rights violations by Indian authorities during protests in Jammu and Kashmir since July 9.

"The government has completely and unequivocally rejected in entirety all such actions and statements by Pakistan regarding Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral and inalienable part of India," Swaraj said.

"The government has reached out to other countries to counter the Pakistani propaganda by stressing the aforementioned aspects. It has also been emphasised to our international interlocutors that Indian security forces exercised extraordinary restraint, as evident in injuries to over 3,780 security personnel in mob attacks during violent protests in Jammu and Kashmir," she added.

She said the Indian government has also "put across forcefully" that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are Indian citizens, and the government "is fully conscious of its responsibilities towards them".

--IANS

mak/tsb