Geneva, October 10 (Daily Kiran) : India has made it clear that it will not be intimidated by nuclear threats from Pakistan, particularly regarding terrorism. Anmol Sher Bedi, a senior advisor at India’s permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva, emphasized that India will respond to any terrorist attacks decisively.
During his address, Bedi warned Pakistan that any acts of terrorism directed at India would meet with a strong retaliation. He stated that India does not differentiate between those who support terrorism and those who orchestrate it.
Bedi’s remarks followed the “Operation Sindoor,” which targeted terrorist bases in Pakistan after an attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians in Pahalgam last year. He affirmed that India’s actions were taken in self-defense and were carefully calibrated to avoid escalating tensions further.
Responding to statements made by Pakistan’s permanent representative in Geneva, Tahir Andarabi, during a meeting of the UN General Assembly’s First Committee, Bedi cautioned against using nuclear weapons as a tool of state policy. He argued that relying on nuclear threats to evade consequences from smaller-scale attacks could exacerbate tensions rather than alleviate them.
He reassured the committee that India’s nuclear capabilities are not aimed at any specific country and are entirely defensive in nature. Bedi reiterated India’s “no-first-strike” policy, meaning India will not initiate a nuclear attack against any nation.
Bedi also questioned Pakistan’s requests for nuclear cooperation, referencing the Abdul Qadeer Khan network, which has been accused of supplying nuclear bomb-making technology to other countries and exchanging missile technology with North Korea in return for nuclear materials.
He urged nations to exercise caution when collaborating with Pakistan in the fields of nuclear and military technology, highlighting the security implications. Bedi pointed out the history of the A.Q. Khan network, which led to the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 two decades ago, aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
He noted that the resolution mandates all countries to prevent terrorist organizations or non-state actors from acquiring such weapons. Bedi identified Pakistan’s persistent use of terrorism as a significant cause of regional instability.
He remarked that regional crises often follow a predictable pattern: provocation, denial of responsibility, and calls for restraint in response to retaliation. This cycle, he argued, turns instability into a political weapon.
Bedi highlighted that real power in Pakistan lies with the military, as those in power are neither elected by the public nor accountable to them. Consequently, they face no personal repercussions for their decisions, turning crises into instruments of power.
He pointed to a recent visit by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Pakistan, where he deviated from protocol to meet with the army chief, Asim Munir, as indicative of this dynamic.
Bedi explained that India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty because it was based on mutual trust and cooperation, which Pakistan has undermined. On the Kashmir issue, he asserted that Pakistan continuously raises this matter at every forum, regardless of the agenda.
He concluded by stating, “Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inseparable part of India. We demand the return of our territories illegally occupied by India.”
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