UNITED NATIONS: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday ripped into Pakistan over its standpoint in sponsoring and spreading terrorism and advised Islamabad to clean up its act and try to be a good neighbour. "The world is not stupid, it is not forgetful" when it comes to recognising Pakistan as the "epicentre" of terrorism, Jaishankar has said.
Jaishankar said on Thursday at a news conference outside the UN Security Council chamber where he had just finished a special session that heard reports on counterterrorism, Pakistan must clean up its act and take up the global agenda of development rather than terrorism.
When asked by a Pakistani TV reporter how long it will take for terrorism to be eradicated in South Asia, Jaishankar said, "You're asking the wrong Minister!" He remarked, "The person who will tell you how long Pakistan plans to practise terrorism is the minister of Pakistan. The Minister said, "People have worked it out" that Pakistan is the "epicentre" of terrorism, so there is no longer any room for confusion.
"So please clean up your act if you want to be a good neighbour, is my advise. Please try to contribute to the development and economic progress that the rest of the world is attempting." Jaishankar continued by saying that he wished to convey this message via the journalist's TV station.
Jaishankar responded that it is ironic that Rana Sanaullah, the interior minister of Pakistan, should be making the charge regarding India's role in terrorism.
It is because about a decade ago when Rana was a Minister, Hillary Clinton who was visiting Pakistan warned him about terrorism and said that if you have snakes in your backyard, you cannot expect them to bite only your neighbours because eventually, they will bite the people who keep them, Jaishankar said. However, he added, Pakistan is not adept at heeding counsel.
He said that at the end of Thursday's meeting, the Council adopted a presidential statement that affirmed that any act of terrorism or crime is unjustifiable notwithstanding the motivation and who committed it.
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