Pak promoting crossborder terrorism: Indian diplomat

Baku [Azerbaijan], Apr. 05 (ANI): Indian diplomat Priyanka Mehtani on Thursday slammed Pakistan for promoting cross-border terrorism and harbouring terrorists in their soil.

Speaking at the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Mid-Term Ministerial Meeting here, Priyanka Mehtani said, "My simple response to Pakistan is neighbour - heal thy self. Glorifying violence, promoting cross-border terrorism, harbouring territorial ambitions against the territorial integrity of neighbours are all methodologies of those who live in yesterday's world."

"India's focus is on issues of today and tomorrow. Yesterday's thinking, as exemplified by Pakistan's malicious lies, is a distraction that we do not wish to engage with," she asserted.

The diplomat further said the state of Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India and would continue to do so.

Criticising Pakistan's violation of NAM's core values, in relation to the repeated ceasefire violation in the strife-torn state, Mehtani added, "Pakistan has attempted to misuse this august platform to promote its self-serving propaganda about the state of Jammu and Kashmir in disregard of the NAM's core values that have brought us together - mutual equality, mutual respect and mutual cooperation."

Earlier on Thursday, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj said terrorism was the primary threat to international peace and security and talks to combat terrorism have not been matched by the actions.

India and Azerbaijan on Wednesday agreed for a global and concerted action to combat terrorism, stating that both sides had zero tolerance on the issue.

Swaraj is on a three-day visit to the Central Asian country to attend the NAM mid-term ministerial conference, having arrived here on Wednesday. (ANI)