Sushma Swaraj arrives New York for UNGA address tomorrow

Minister of External Affairs of India, Sushma Swaraj, arrived New York to address the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with all eyes and ears set on her speech tomorrow which is expected to give a stinging response to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir.

 

Swaraj arrived yesterday afternoon and will address the UN General Debate tomorrow morning.

 

"Leading India's delegation to the 71st UNGA. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a tweet.

 

Swaraj is expected to give a stinging response to Sharif's UNGA speech, in which he had focused elaborately on Kashmir. India's strong Right of Reply to his speech called Pakistan home to the "Ivy League of Terrorism" and a "terrorist state" that commits "war crimes" by using terrorism as an instrument of national policy.

 

Outlining India's focus for the UNGA session, New Delhi's envoy to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin had said that terrorism is the "primary concern" for India as well as for nations across the world.

 

He listed reform of the UN Security Council, sustainable development, climate change and peacekeeping as other priorities for India in the current UNGA session.

 

Swarup told reporters on September 23 that "the whole world and the entire nation" is waiting to hear from Swaraj, who will deliver India's "vision document" for the 71st UNGA.

 

However, he did not elaborate on elements of Swaraj's address but said, "I think the broad themes that Akbaruddin has outlined are going to be a part of our presentation at this most important forum in the international community."

 

Swarup said one could also expect, "A continued focus on India on the theme of terrorism which is today undoubtedly the single biggest challenge to international peace and security."

 

Exercising the Right of Reply to Sharif's "long tirade" about the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambler had said: "The worst violation of human rights is terrorism".

 

"When practised as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region," she said.

 

She had said India sees in Pakistan as "a terrorist state" which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours.