India's envoy to UN extends hand of friendship to Pakistani journalists

India’s permanent representative to the UN, Syed Akbaruddin, in a symbolic gesture shook the hands of Pakistani journalists, extending his “hand of friendship” to them as he addressed the media after the Security Council held closed consultations on Kashmir.

The informal closed consultations, requested for by permanent member China, lasted over an hour on Friday (August 16) after which Beijing’s ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, and Pakistan’s UN envoy, Maleeha Lodhi, made remarks to the media at the Security Council stakeout one by one. The two left without taking even a single question from the reporters.

Following the remarks by China and Pakistan, Akbaruddin came to the UN Security Council stakeout to give a statement on India’s national position on Kashmir and Article 370.

Unlike the Chinese and Pakistani ambassadors, he stayed back after his remarks and told the large gathering of UN reporters that he will take questions from them. “I’m ready if any of you are willing to ask any questions. I will take them.”

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Akbaruddin said he will answer five questions, “Five times more than both my predecessors who came here.” He gave the first three questions to Pakistani journalists.

When a Pakistani journalist asked that whether India will agree to have a dialogue with Pakistan, Akbaruddin responded, “There are normal diplomatic ways when countries deal with each other. That is the way to do it. But using terror to thrive and push your goals is not the way that normal states behave. No democracy will acknowledge or accept talks when terror thrives. Stop terror, start talks.”

A senior Pakistani journalist at the UN asked, “When will you begin a dialogue with Pakistan?”

The Indian envoy said, “So let me begin by coming across to you and shaking your hand, all three of you,” walking up from the lectern to him and shaking his hand. Akbaruddin then walked up to the other two Pakistani journalists in the media group and shook their hands with a smile. The gesture was cheered by those present at the UNSC stakeout.

“So let me tell you we have already extended our hand of friendship by saying we are committed to the Simla Agreement. Let us wait for a response on that from the Pakistani side,” he said.

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