India calls Pakistan 'prime sponsor of terrorism', asks it to vacate PoK

UNITED NATIONS: Bluntly calling Pakistan a "prime sponsor of terrorism," India today strongly hit back at Islamabad, asserting de-militarising Kashmir is not the answer for achieving peace but "deterrorising" Pakistan is as it uses terror as a "legitimate instrument" of its statecraft.

India also urged Pakistan for "early vacation" of Pak occupied Kashmir(PoK).

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New Delhi's unequivocal response came shortly after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raised Kashmir issue in his address to the UN General Assembly(UNGA), terming its non-resolution as a failure of the world body, and proposed a 4-point "peace initiative" with India which includes demilitarisation of Kashmir. Sharif had also said Pakistan is the "primary victim" of terrorism.

"In truth, it(Pakistan) is actually a victim of its own policies of breeding and sponsoring terrorists. The heart of the matter is a state that regards the use of terrorism as a legitimate instrument of statecraft.

"The world watches with concern as its consequences have spread beyond its immediate neighbourhood," First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Abhishek Singh said in a sharp retort exercising India's Right of Reply during the General Debate of 70th session of UNGA.

Separately, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup in his response through a series of tweet said, "To de-militarise Kashmir is not the answer, to de-terrorise Pakistan is."

To de-militarize Kashmir is not the answer, to de-terrorize Pakistan is.

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 30, 2015

"Pakistan is not primary victim of terrorism but of its own policies. It is in fact the prime sponsor of terrorism."

Pakistan is not primary victim of terrorism but of its own policies. It is in fact the prime sponsor of terrorism.

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 30, 2015

Swarup further tweeted that Pakistan's "instability arises from its breeding of terrorists. Blaming neighbours is not a solution."

Pakistan's instability arises from its breeding of terrorists. Blaming neighbors is not a solution.

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 30, 2015

Reacting to Sharif's remarks that "Palestinians and Kashmiris (are) oppressed by foreign occupation", Swarup said the "Pak PM gets foreign occupation right, occupier wrong. We urge early vacation of Pak occupied Kashmir."