India Slams OIC Remarks at UN, Says It Fails to Distinguish Victims from Perpetrators

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 7: India has strongly rejected remarks by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Jammu and Kashmir and New Delhi’s actions against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK), saying the grouping has failed to distinguish between the victim and the perpetrator.

Lok Sabha MP from West Tripura Biplab Kumar Deb delivered India’s national statement at the UN General Assembly Sixth Committee during a discussion on measures to eliminate international terrorism.

Responding to the OIC statement, Deb said the grouping had made references to India’s “focused and measured actions” against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK, from where attacks against India were allegedly planned and directed.

“It is regrettable that those delivering the statement are unable to separate fact from fiction and distinguish between victim and perpetrator,” Deb said.

He asserted that India has the right to protect its citizens from cross-border terrorism originating in Pakistan and warned that those engaging in terrorism would face consequences.

Deb also rejected what he described as an “unwarranted reference” to Jammu and Kashmir, urging the OIC to instead focus on Pakistan’s administration of PoK.

He referred to reported unrest in PoK, including protests, violence and allegations surrounding recent elections, and said the situation there warranted greater attention.

Saudi Arabia delivered the OIC statement at the UN General Assembly Sixth Committee, which deals with legal matters. The statement referred to what it called military escalation in Southeast Asia and “unjustified strikes” at several locations in Pakistan, without naming India.

India’s response also highlighted the continuing threat posed by terrorism. Deb said New Delhi’s experience showed that terrorism was not an abstract danger but a persistent security challenge.

Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack of April last year, in which 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed, he said the incident demonstrated the devastating human cost of terrorism. India has blamed networks operating from across its western border for the attack.

Deb stressed that terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism, poses a serious threat to international peace and security, economic development, democratic institutions and human rights.

“Terrorism is antithetical to the values of the UN. There can be no justification whatsoever for deliberately targeting civilians,” he said, adding that there could be no distinction between “good and bad terrorism”.

He also drew attention to the growing use of emerging technologies by terrorist organisations for recruitment, radicalisation, propaganda, operational planning and financing. According to Deb, the anonymity and global reach provided by such technologies allow extremist groups to evade law enforcement and target vulnerable young people.

India further renewed its call for the early adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). Deb noted that India had circulated a draft convention at the UN in 1996 and said its conclusion would strengthen the international legal framework for combating terrorism.

He also cited the New Delhi Declaration adopted at last month’s BRICS Leaders’ Summit, which condemned the Pahalgam attack and reaffirmed that acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable.

The Indian delegation’s UN visit includes 15 MPs participating in a range of engagements as part of a familiarisation programme.