Aiming at Pakistan, Swaraj tells UN world must isolate nations exporting terror

Sushma Swaraj also made a strong pitch for isolating such nations who speak the language of terrorism.
Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs for India, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters. (AP)
Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs for India, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters. (AP)

UNITED NATIONS: Taking aim at Pakistan's role in nurturing terrorism, India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made a stirring call on Monday for isolating Islamabad if it does not join a global strategy against the "malevolent" force threatening the world.

Warning the world that "we do not know who this Frankenstein's monster will devour next", she told the UN General Assembly in Hindi, "If we want to defeat terrorism, there is only one way -- that we unite across our differences, add steel to our resolve and inject urgency in our response".

"And if any nation refuses to join this global strategy, then we must isolate it," said.

Swaraj did not name Pakistan in this part of her speech, but left little doubt who she was referring to. While speaking specifically of relations with Pakistan, she said, "Bahadur Ali is a terrorist in our custody, whose confession is a living proof of Pakistan's complicity in cross border terror."

Ali was caught during a gun-battle on July 25, in Kashmir's Kupwara District.

"In our midst, there are nations that still speak the language of terrorism, that nurture it, peddle it, and export it," she said. "To shelter terrorists has become their calling card. We must identify these nations and hold them to account. These nations, in which UN declared terrorists roam freely, lead processions and deliver their poisonous sermons of hate with impunity, are as culpable as the very terrorists they harbour. Such countries should have no place in the comity of nations."

Turning to Pakistan, Swaraj said that India had offered the hand of friendship, and listed a number of initiatives India had undertaken without pre-conditions. These ranged from major initiatives like Prime Minister Narendra Modi's impromptu visit to Lahore and her own Islamabad trip, to minor gestures of amity like Eid greetings, and wishes for the success of its cricket team.

Watch Sushma Swaraj's full speech here:

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