Pak has no locus standi on Kashmir: India at UN

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday rebuffed Pakistan that had raised issues of the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani and Kashmir, saying the neighbour was extolling

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday rebuffed Pakistan that had raised issues of the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani and Kashmir, saying the neighbour was extolling the virtues of terrorists and “coveting” the territory of others.

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India’s permanent representative to United Nations, Syed Abkaruddin, criticised Pakistan for its role in fomenting terror. External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said here that Pakistan had no locus standi on the Kashmir issue and terror and talks cannot go hand in hand. His rebuttal at the UN came after remarks made by Pakistan’s envoy Maleeha Lodhi on Kashmir and Wani’s killing during a debate on human rights in the 193-member UN General Assembly on Wednesday.

In her statement, Lodhi also mentioned the “extra-judicial” killing of Wani, whom she described as a “Kashmiri leader”, by Indian forces. In his reply, Akbaruddin said that Pakistan “extols” the virtues of terrorists and could not gain membership of the UN’s human rights body because of its “track record”. Akbaruddin said it is regrettable that Pakistan attempted to “misuse” the UN platform.

BILAWAL SAYS PPP WILL HOLD RALLIES FOR J&K

SRINAGAR: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Thursday called up separatist Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and said rallies would be held on Friday t o show “solidarity” with people of the state.

Bilawal, son of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari, told Farooq over phone that he was concerned over the “abject human rights violation and the deteriorating situation” in the Valley, said a spokesman of the Hurriyat Conference.