On Wednesday, India exercised its Right of Reply at the United Nations to accuse Pakistan of undermining efforts to combat terrorism by presenting misleading public messages, particularly through the announcement of rewards for Masood Azhar, the chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed. India’s First Secretary to the UN, Raghoo Puri, articulated that while declarations against terrorism have been made, actionable measures against perpetrators and their backers are imperative for genuine progress.

Concerns Over Terrorism Financing

Puri emphasised that terrorism is a multifaceted issue that cannot be overcome solely through rhetorical statements. He noted that Pakistan allegedly attempts to obscure its state-sponsored terrorism, particularly through announcements aimed at apprehending individuals involved in terror activities. He highlighted the contradiction in Pakistan’s claims of combating terrorism while simultaneously sheltering terror groups, asking, “What happens when terrorists are financed, facilitated, trained, sheltered, or supported from the territory of a state?”

The Indian representative referenced various notorious attacks, including 9/11 and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, to stress the importance of addressing terrorism’s roots. He stated that the global community should not overlook Pakistan’s history of supporting terror activities, underscoring that such support has led to significant regional instability. Recent assertions from Pakistani officials claiming Jaish-e-Mohammed is defunct were dismissed as insincere.

Puri remarked that if Pakistani media have the ability to contact Azhar and receive confirmations about his operational status, then it is implausible to assume the Pakistani government remains unaware of his precise location. India’s critical view of Pakistan’s announcement of a bounty of Rs 7 million for Azhar was described as a futile effort to sidestep deeper issues of terrorism.

Pakistan’s Terrorism Allegations Denied

India’s longstanding accusations against Pakistan regarding hosting Azhar have faced rebuttal from Islamabad. Pakistani authorities assert that he has taken refuge in Afghanistan, a claim that was refuted by a senior Afghan Foreign Ministry official, stating Azhar is not present in the country. This contradiction raises questions about Pakistan’s narrative, especially given the Pakistan government’s ongoing struggle to meet the standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which is scheduled to review its counter-terrorism measures forthcoming.

Pakistan was placed on the FATF grey list from 2018 to 2022 due to significant shortcomings in anti-money laundering protocols and ineffective actions against terror financing. Recent statements regarding threats within Punjab, made by Maryam Nawaz, daughter of the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, indicated internal security challenges that may stem from terrorist activities.

Puri asserted that when terrorism thrives under state political influence, commitments made on international stages lose their significance. He reiterated the global memory of past terrorist acts, reminding the audience of the repercussions for victims when states fail to tackle terrorist networks. He condemned the irony of Pakistan’s position, suggesting that Pakistan’s practices enable a culture of cross-border terrorism while professing to combat religious intolerance.

India’s Stance on Counter-Terrorism Initiatives

In light of previous military operations targeting terror infrastructure, India emphasised its readiness to protect its citizens. Puri expressed that a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy necessitates accountability for actions taken by states harbouring such entities. He reiterated that ongoing terrorism would yield consequences for the responsible parties.

India’s interventions at the UN highlighted the need for Pakistan to demonstrate tangible actions against terrorist groups rather than relying on verbal assertions. The emphasis was placed on accountability, suggesting that the international community should evaluate states based on their actions against terrorism, rather than their narrative presentations at global forums.

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