India, Pakistan Engage in War of Words Over Article 370 Repeal at NAM Summit

Baku, October 27: India and Pakistan engaged in a bitter war of words over the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at the 18th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on Saturday, Pakistan President Arif Alvi termed revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status granted under Article 370 a "draconian measures". India, in turn, called Pakistan the "contemporary epicentre" of terrorism. Pakistan Summons New Delhi's Envoy Gaurav Ahluwalia After Indian Army Pounds 4 Terror Launch Pads in PoK.

Arif Alvi said that India's move to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir's special status "found no parallel in this age and time". He said the attempt to link the "legitimate struggle" of the Kashmiris with terrorism had run its course. Although India mostly avoids directly referring to Pakistan on international forum, however, but Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu named the neighbour, calling it the contemporary epicentre of terrorism. 500 Terrorists Waiting at LoC Camps in PoK to Sneak into Kashmir, Says Northern Command Chief.

"On the subject of terrorism, our thoughts naturally go to its contemporary epicentre — Pakistan," Naidu said. Slamming Alvi for misusing the forum, Naidu said: "We regret that earlier today afternoon, this august forum was misused to justify once again its long-standing policy of conducting cross border terrorism against its neighbours including Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India. Indeed, we speak for the larger region in terms of this deep concern over Pakistan’s behaviour."

MEA's Tweet on Venkaiah Naidu's  Speech at NAM Summit:

Naidu said that terrorism is a single most destructive threat which continues to expand its "tentacles with increasing impunity." "The only way to fight this menace is to strengthen and implement, without exception, all existing international laws and mechanism to combat terrorists and their enablers," Naidu said. "No justification whatsoever can be accepted for violent extremist ideologies and terrorist actions that maim and murder innocents, disrupt the very fabric of our societies and stall developmental efforts," he added.

"All of us in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is focused on meeting our developmental goals and aspirations. Pakistan clearly needs to do much more to earn the confidence of the international community. It must decisively abjure terrorism — for its own good, for that of its neighbours and for the good of the world," Naidu said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 27, 2019 03:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).