India Slams Pakistan For Seeking 'Pocket Money' For Hafiz Saeed At UN, Says It Exposes Its Duplicity

India on Friday hit out at Pakistan, saying Pakistan's request to the UNSC's anti-terror committee to allow Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed to get "pocket money" from his bank account for basic expenses exposes Islamabad's duplicity. The UNSC's sanctions committee last month had allowed Saeed to withdraw money from his bank account for basic expenses.

"One country gives an application on behalf of a global terrorist to UN Security Council's Sanctions Committee that he should be given a pocket money. This is a weird situation," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

Kumar said on one hand Pakistan requests to the UNSC for allowing Saeed to withdraw money for basic expenses from his bank account, on the other hand it says the world does not believe that it is taking action against terrorists.

"How can anyone believe you (Pakistan). This is duplicity. On one hand, you say something and on the other hand you do another," Kumar said.

Financial assets of Saeed, a UN proscribed terrorist, have been frozen after he was listed under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008.

According to UN provisions, all states are required to freeze the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals.

The resolution also provides for states to sanction basic expenses of the designated individuals if there is no-objection over it.

Indian also slammed Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad for saying India ‘invaded and occupied’ Jammu and Kashmir at the UN and said it should desist from making such remarks.

"Jammu and Kashmir signed Instrument of Accession like all other princely states, Pakistan invaded and illegally occupied parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The government of Malaysia should bear in mind the friendly relations between the 2 countries & desist from making such remarks," Kumar said.

Kumar also asked Turkey to get a proper understanding of the situation on the ground in Kashmir before raising the issue at an international forum.

"We call upon the Turkey govt to get a proper understanding of the situation on the ground before they make any further statements on this issue. It is a matter which is completely internal to India," Kumar said Turkey raising Kashmir issue at UNGA.

Earlier, the Malaysian prime minister in his address to the UN General Assembly on Friday alleged that India has "invaded and occupied" Jammu and Kashmir and asked New Delhi to work with Pakistan to resolve the issue. He said that there may be reasons for India's action in Jammu and Kashmir ‘but it is still wrong.’

He said, "ignoring the UN would lead to others forms of disregard for the United Nations and the rule of law."

India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was an internal matter. India has rejected any scope for third party mediation between India and Pakistan on Kashmir, saying the two countries can discuss and resolve all issues bilaterally.

(With PTI inputs)