Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj arrived in New York on Saturday afternoon to address the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Swaraj is scheduled to address the assembly on Monday.
"Leading India's delegation to the 71st UNGA. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a tweet.
Swaraj is expected to respond to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "long tirade" on Kashmir. India previously described Pakistan as a "terrorist state" home to the "Ivy League of Terrorism" through its provision of Right to Reply to Sharif's speech. India had said that the neighbouring country commits "war crimes" by using terrorism as an instrument of state policy.
India's envoy to the UN Syed Akbaruddin said that terrorism was the "primary concern" for the country and the world, according to local media reports. He added that the other important topics at the UNGA session were the reform of the UN Security Council, sustainable development, climate change and peacekeeping.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup told the media on 23 September that "the whole world and the entire nation is waiting to hear what the external affairs minister has to say but I think the broad themes that Akbaruddin has outlined are definitely going to be a part of our presentation at this most important forum in the international community."
Swaraj is all set to deliver India's "vision document" at the UNGA session on Monday morning.
Swarup added that India would focus on terrorism as it is the "single biggest challenge to international peace and security."
First secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, Eenam Gambhir, had said in response to Sharif's speech at the UNGA: "When practised as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region."
Gambhir added that India sees Pakistan as "a terrorist state" that channelises billions of dollars to train, finance and support terrorist organisations in carrying out attacks against India and other neighbours.
