Pak Stands Isolated In a World Focused on Terror: Syed Akbaruddin

Every leader that spoke at UNGA condemned the recent terrorist attack in Uri on the sidelines, Akbaruddin said.

Syed Akbaruddin (R) said that there was enough support to get it passed if it was put to vote without waiting for unanimity and that is an option that India keeps open. (Photo: ANI)

Pakistan’s campaign on Kashmir at the UN has fallen flat and Islamabad has been isolated in a world focused on the horrors of terror, according to senior Indian officials basking in the afterglow of what they see as a diplomatic victory.

Terrorism is a primary concern for countries around the world and of the about 131 countries that have spoken as of Friday morning at the UN General Assembly summit, “90 percent” raised the issue and its dangers and 130 did not mention the issue that Pakistan raked up, Syed Akbaruddin, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, told some reporters.

Diplomacy is the art of the possible. Are you seeing any other countries raising the issues Pakistan has?

Syed Akbaruddin, on Pakistan’s isolation

Following a sustained diplomatic campaign, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif spoke extensively on Wednesday at the Assembly on Kashmir.

Every leader that MJ Akbar, the Minister of State for External Affairs, met on the sidelines of the Assembly session condoled the recent terrorist attack on the Indian army base in Uri, Akbaruddin said.

India being a victim of terrorism has found resonance around the world, he said.

When the leaders of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation met at a luncheon, Akbar raised the terrorism issue and thanked those who condoled India’s victims.

He said that there was enough support to get it passed if it was put to vote without waiting for unanimity, and that is an option that India keeps open, he said.

Petition by Indian Americans to Declare Pak Sponsor of Terror

Meanwhile, an Indian-American community in the US has launched a White House petition to designate Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism, days after a bill in this regard was tabled in the US Congress by two powerful lawmakers.

“This petition is important to the people of United States of America, India and many other countries which are continuously affected by Pakistan-sponsored terrorism,” the petition started on Tuesday said.

It requires at least 1,00,000 signatures to qualify for a response from the Obama Administration.

An initiative of US President Barack Obama, “We the People”, the online petition service at the White House website provides a window to American citizens to campaign before the administration on a particular issue.

The move comes after Congressman Ted Poe, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, along with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, introduced H R 6069, the Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act in the House of Representatives.

(With inputs from PTI and IANS)