To Pakistan's 4-pt formula, India says only one needed -- end terror

United Nations Rejecting Nawaz Sharifs 4point formula for peace India today said Pakistan needs to address just one issue of ending crossborder terror for the dialogue to start on all outstanding matters as it proposed NSAlevel talks to discuss the matterAddressing the UN General Assembly External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also raised the issue of 2611 attacks masterminds roaming freely as also the illegal occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raked up Kashmir issue hereAsserting that none of us can accept that terrorism is a legitimate instrument of statecraft she pressed the world community to show zero tolerance towards it and ensure that countries which provide finances safe havens and arms to terrorists pay a heavy price for itTalks and terror cannot go together she said while making it clear that India remains open to dialogue but terrorism emanating from Pakistan is hampering normalisation of bilateral relations Yesterday the Prime Minister of Pakistan proposed what he termed as a fourpoint new peace initiativeIndias Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj speaks during the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters Thursday Oct 1 2015 Pic APPTII would like to respond We do not need four points we need just one give up terrorism and let us sit down and talk Swaraj said in her 25minute speech before the 193member body She said the Prime Ministers of the two countries had decided precisely the same during the last meeting in Ufa in Russia in JulySharif had yesterday mooted a 4point peace initiative with India demilitarisation of Kashmir unconditional and mutual withdrawal of forces from Siachen restraint by both countries from use or the threat of use of force under any circumstances and formalisation of the 2003 border ceasefireLet us hold talks at the level of NSAs on all issues connected to terrorism and an early meeting of our Directors General of Military Operations to address the situation on the border she said adding If the response is serious and credible India is prepared to address all outstanding issues through a bilateral dialoguePrime Minister Narendra Modi and Sharif during a meeting in Ufa in July had agreed to hold NSAlevel talks to discuss terror but these were cancelled at the last minute in August when Pakistan insisted on changing the agendaSharing the challenges that India faces in its ties with Pakistan Swaraj said None of us can accept that terrorism is a legitimate instrument of statecraft In this context she referred to the 2611 carnage which was sponsored and controlled from Pakistan as also the latest attack in Udhampur in Jammu where a Pakistani terrorist was caught aliveThe world shared our outrage at the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which citizens of many nations were helplessly butchered Swaraj said adding that it was an affront to the entire international community that the mastermind behind the attack is walking free in PakistanThis was a reference to LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi who is roaming freely in Pakistan despite India giving it loads of evidence about his involvement in the attacks Not only have past assurances in this regard not been honoured by Pakistan but new crossborder terrorist attacks have taken place recently in which two terrorists from across the border have also been captured alive Swaraj saidOne of the terrorists was caught alive during attack on BSF convoy in Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir We all know that these attacks are meant to destabilize India and legitimize Pakistans illegal occupation of parts of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir and its claim on the rest of it the Indian minister saidShe said India has lived with the threat of terror for more than a quarter of a century and it was tragically brought home to this very city New York in the autumn of 2001 a clear reference to the 911 attacks Swarj emphasised that international terrorism can only be defeated by organized international action and asked the world must demonstrate that it has zero tolerance for terrorists who kill and maim innocent civilians with action based on the principle of prosecute or extraditeMember states must undertake their obligations to investigate and prosecute those who are alleged to have supported terrorism the External Affairs Minister said At the same time she asserted that an international legal regime under the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism CCIT can no longer be held up nor can we be held hostage by seeking to define terrorism when the General Assembly in 2006 adopted the Global Counter Terrorism Strategy unanimouslyTargeting the UN on its 70th anniversary she said it appears as an ineffective institution when gauged on the parameters of whether it has been able to prevent conflicts managed to find permanent solution to these conflicts or showing the path of peace to the world which is going the way of violence