India will ‘set the record straight’ on Nawaz Sharif’s Kashmir remarks in the UN

New York: Amid moves by Pakistan to rake up the Kashmir issue at the UNGA session, India is likely to exercise its right to reply on the matter.

"The PM (Narendra Modi) tomorrow is going to make his statement in a forward looking manner. India will use its right to reply and set the record straight. This will be done on the floor of the UN," said Syed Akbaruddin, Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs.

Sharif had said on Friday, “The core issue of Jammu and Kashmir has to be resolved and pushed for a plebiscite in the state. This is the responsibility of the international community... We cannot draw a veil over the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Sharif also said, "Pakistan's aspiration and effort is to build a peaceful neighbourhood. Regional peace and security, political peace, social justice and rule of law is absolutely essential... My government's aspiration and effort to build a peaceful neighbourhood.”

Read: Nawaz Sharif rakes up Kashmir issue at UNGA; blames India for cancelling talks

Exercising its Right of Reply on the floor of the General Assembly to the comments made by Sharif, India said that the Pakistan Prime Minister made "unwarranted references" in his address to the UN session.

"I would like to bring to the notice of this august House that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have peacefully chosen their destiny in accordance with the universally accepted democratic principles and practices and they continue to do so. We, therefore, reject in their entirety the untenable comments of the distinguished delegate of Pakistan," Abhishek Singh, First Secretary in the Indian mission to the UN said in the General Assembly.

Earlier, Pakistan had said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would again highlight the Kashmir issue in his address to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) while ruling out resumption of any dialogue with India unless New Delhi takes the initiative in this regard.

"We were disappointed at the cancellation of the Foreign Secretary-level talks. The world community, too, rightly saw it as another missed opportunity. Pakistan is convinced that we must remain engaged in the dialogue process for settling disputes and building economic and trade relations. Let us not ignore the dividends of peace," he said.

Read: Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif raises Kashmir issue with UN chief

In his address, Sharif said that more than six decades ago, the United Nations passed resolutions to hold a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The people of J&K are still waiting for the fulfilment of that promise. Many generations of Kashmiris have lived their lives under occupation, accompanied by violence and abuse of their fundamental rights. Kashmiri women, in particular, have undergone immense suffering and humiliation," he said.

Sharif repeated that the "core issue of Jammu and Kashmir" has to be resolved. "This is the responsibility of the international community. We cannot draw a veil on the issue of Kashmir, until it is addressed in accordance with the wishes of the people of J&K," he said.

Last year too, Sharif had raised the issue while addressing the UNGA saying that the UN must remain "attentive" to the protracted issue as also the "full realisation" of the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.