Sushma Swaraj to voice India's bid to expose Pakistan on terrorism at UN General Assembly

The terrorist attack in Uri that claimed the lives of 18 Army personnel has brought about a complete overhaul in the Indian government's diplomatic policy and political stand of dealing with Pakistan.

India has decided to expose Pakistan's intention of spreading terror in the South Asian region to the gloabal fraternity by highlighting their involvement in the recent terror attacks in Pathankot and Uri.

The Indian goverment would have an ideal platform to corner Pakistan on the terrorism issue at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), scheduled on September 26.

The government has decided to field External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is likely to raise the terror attacks in Uri and Pathankot in her speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Sources said she is likely to deliver her address — on behalf of the government of India — on September 26.The speech will not be the only diplomatic move to corner Pakistan.

Sources said the Indian mission to the UN will also set up bilateral meetings with a host of foreign ministers and other leaders representing various countries at the UN — in a bid to highlight Pakistan’s role in terrorist activities in Kashmir and other parts of India.

Sources said India’s Permanent Representative at the UN Syed Akbaruddin will take this up with his counterparts at the UN in New York, where world leaders will descend for the annual UNGA session.“This global outreach will be in a proactive manner, much like India’s outreach post 26/11,” a South Block source said.Within hours of the Uri attack, Indian envoys in capitals across the world were asked to get foreign governments to condemn the attack.

This prompted the Indian envoy in the UK, Navtej Sarna, to set up the first phone conversation between UK’s foreign secretary Boris Johnson and Swaraj, in which he said that UK “condemns all forms of terrorism and stands shoulder to shoulder with India in the fight against terrorism, and in bringing the perpetrators to justice”.

On Monday, several foreign governments and leaders issued public statements condemning the attack.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asserted that the perpetrators of the attack would be brought to justice and all stakeholders would meet their responsibilities to maintain peace and stability.

Sources said the Indian envoy in France, Mohan Kumar, also dialled the French Foreign Ministry, following which Paris issued a statement: “France most firmly condemns the terrible terrorist attack perpetrated against an Indian Army camp in the region of Kashmir.”

“France remains at India’s side in the combat against terrorism. It calls on every State to fight effectively against terrorist groups operating on their territory or from their territory against other countries,” it said.