‘Terrorists have no banks. Who is funding them?’ asks Sushma Swaraj at UNGA

Just days after Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif raked up Kashmir at the UN, Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday gave a stern message to Pakistan to ‘abandon its dream’ of obtaining ‘territory it covets’ through terror attacks.

Swaraj said this while addressing the United Nations General Assembly. On September 22, Sharif in his speech had said that his country "fully supports Kashmir's right to self-determination". Sharif went so far as to say that slain Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani was a hero and the 'symbol of Kashmir's demand for resolution'. "Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces has emerged as a symbol of latest Kashmiri 'intifada'," Sharif said. Referring to the violent protests in the Valley, Sharif said that the 'oppression and brutalities by Indian troops will only intensify their anger and demand for self-determination'.

Following are the highlights from Sushma Swaraj’s speech at the UN: 

• ·        There can be no progress without peace. We must remember that we will be defined not just by our actions, but equally, by our inaction.
• ·         Any nation that doesn’t want to fight terrorism should be isolated.
• ·         Terrorists have no banks of their own. Who is funding them?
• ·         We need to identify who gives shelter to the terrorists. How are they able to carry out such activities?
• ·         Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others (on Sharif’s reference to alleged human rights’ violation in Kashmir)
• ·         Terrorism is the biggest violation of human rights.
• ·         Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain an integral part of India
• ·         India has kept no condition on talks (with Pakistan). What have we got in return for goodwill for talks? Pathankot? Uri? Bahadur Ali?
• ·         If Pakistan thinks it can snatch a piece of India by issuing such inflammatory remarks, let me tell you it will never be successful.
• ·         Those who seed extremist ideologies, reap a bitter harvest. This germ of evil has grown into a hydra-headed monster