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It was in the second sentence of the second paragraph of her hard hitting speech that India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj spoke about terrorism terming it as a “deluge of trouble”. But that was a mere preface of the entire text. What followed was a tongue lashing for India’s errant neighbor, Pakistan. Kind of a recurrent theme in her hard hitting speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Pakistan was the central figure and a subject of ridicule to put it mildly. It was a no holds barred attack and Swaraj in no uncertain terms called a spade a spade. Sample this: We (India) are completely engaged in fighting poverty; alas, our neighbour Pakistan seems only engaged in fighting us. • Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khakan Abbasi wasted rather too much of his speech in making accusations against us. He accused India of State-sponsored terrorism, and of violating human rights. Those listening had only one observation: "Look who's talking!" • A country that has been the world's greatest exporter of havoc, death and inhumanity became a champion of hypocrisy by preaching about humanity and Human Rights from this podium. • The reality is that Pakistan's politicians remember everything, manipulate memory into a convenience. They are masters at "forgetting" facts that destroy their version. • The word "bilateral" was used consciously to remove any confusion or doubt about the fact that the proposed talks would be between our two nations and only between our two nations, without any third-party present. And he must answer why that proposal withered, because Pakistan is responsible for the aborting of that peace process.Indias we told you so moment
Swaraj did not limit this to India and Pakistan but went a step further
Kumkum Chadha
It was in the second sentence of the second paragraph of her hard hitting speech that Indias External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj spoke about terrorism terming it as a deluge of trouble. But that was a mere preface of the entire text. What followed was a tongue lashing for Indias errant neighbor, Pakistan. Kind of a recurrent theme in her hard hitting speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Pakistan was the central figure and a subject of ridicule to put it mildly. It was a no holds barred attack and Swaraj in no uncertain terms called a spade a spade. Sample this: We (India) are completely engaged in fighting poverty; alas, our neighbour Pakistan seems only engaged in fighting us. Pakistans Prime Minister Shahid Khakan Abbasi wasted rather too much of his speech in making accusations against us. He accused India of State-sponsored terrorism, and of violating human rights. Those listening had only one observation: Look whos talking! A country that has been the worlds greatest exporter of havoc, death and inhumanity became a champion of hypocrisy by preaching about humanity and Human Rights from this podium. The reality is that Pakistans politicians remember everything, manipulate memory into a convenience. They are masters at forgetting facts that destroy their version. The word bilateral was used consciously to remove any confusion or doubt about the fact that the proposed talks would be between our two nations and only between our two nations, without any third-party present. And he must answer why that proposal withered, because Pakistan is responsible for the aborting of that peace process.
Why is it that today India is a recognised IT superpower in the world, and Pakistan is recognised only as the pre-eminent export factory for terror? What is the reason for this have they ever thought? There is only one reason. India has risen despite the principle destination of Pakistans nefarious export of terrorism.
What has Pakistan offered to the world and indeed to its own people apart from terrorism? We produced scholars, doctors, engineers. They have produced terrorists and terrorist camps. Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hijbul Mujahideen, Haqqani Network. We produce scholars, doctors, engineers, scientists. What did you make Pakistan? You created terrorists and Jihadis. And you know, Doctors save people from death; terrorists send them to death. Your terrorist organisations are not only attacking India but are also affecting our two neighbours, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
We (India) have been the oldest victims of this terrible and even traumatic terrorism. When we began articulating about this menace, many of the worlds big powers dismissed this as a law and order issue. Now they know better. The question is: what do we do about it?
Swaraj did not limit this to India and Pakistan but went a step further. Without using the word failed she said that the United Nations has been unable to agree upon a definition of terrorism and therefore the inability of the world to fight it: If we cannot agree to define our enemy, how can we fight together?
In the same breath she asked all nations to
stop seeing this evil with self-defeating and indeed meaningless nuance and accept that terrorism is an existentialist danger to humankind.
Whether member nations heed Indias advice or not only time will tell but Swaraj hit the bulls eye: not only did she rap Pakistan on the knuckles but also told the world about Indias development climb versus Pakistans decline. She also wonderfully articulated a kind of vindication of Indias we told you so moment by saying that their underplaying terrorism when India was in its grip are now battling the hydra.
Swarajs strength was that she spoke in Hindi and that she did not read the prepared text but only referred to it in parts.
That Swaraj is a brilliant speaker is well known. As leader of the Opposition before BJP was elected, she singlehandedly took on the then Government. She was like the Indian goddess breathing fire. Her induction as Minister in Modis government surely tamed her but Swaraj still remains among BJPs most articulate and vocal ministers.
True the sensitive portfolio she heads as Foreign Minister has curbed her style and taken the sting out as has the fact that the Modi government opts for low key rather than high profile people, but Swaraj still manages to carve a niche for herself and the UN platform among others were enough evidence.
That Swaraj got a standing ovation was a given but at the same time knives were out with both China and Pakistan going for her, as it were.
The Chinese media dubbed Swarajs scathing attack on Pakistan as arrogant and bigotry. India, a media report said, has looked down on Pakistan and assumed a haughty air with China, said the editorial titled Indias bigotry no match for its ambition.
It did not stop here. Continuing its tirade it said that India takes for granted that it should be feared by neighbours and wooed by the US and Europe. If smart enough, India should befriend China and respect Pakistan, preventing disputes from spilling over, it said.
What was, however, telling was the editorial comment about the 73-day standoff between India and China at Doklam in the Sikkim section which ended on 28 August:
India also seems to assess Chinas strategic hostility with its own logic: Chinas sound relations with Pakistan are to counter India. Chinas road construction in Doklam is to threaten the security of its Siliguri Corridor and Chinas Belt and Road initiative operates programmes with Pakistan and other South Asian countries to encircle India. In any case, Indias interests always reside at the epicenter of this logic, it said.
China apart, Pakistan called Swarajs speech vicious and angry. Pakistans envoy to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi, gave a reply calling India the mother of terrorism in South Asia while holding up a photo of a girl who she claimed was the victim of Indian forces in Kashmir. As it later turned out, the photo was of a Palestinian girl who was injured by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
As it pans out, Pakistans lie has been nailed. It has yet again been caught on the wrong foot and that too on an international platform.
More than rhetoric, Swarajs attack was a reminder to its neighbours, both Pakistan and now China, that time is running out and while Pakistan needs to mend its ways, China, too, should tone down its war-cry. Pakistan being Pakistan it would perhaps pay no heed to what India is saying but China needs to be more prudent. Instead of allying, supporting, encouraging and backing Pakistan it should weigh Indias concerns rather than be confronted with Indias we told you somoment. That among other things is an important takeaway of Sushma Swarajs vociferous address at the UN. She not only got kudos back home but touched a chord internationally too.
The writer is a senior Indian journalist, political commentator and columnist of The Independent. She can be reached at: ([email protected])
