Senior Indian Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad delivered a powerful condemnation of Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism during a recent All-Party Delegation meeting in Bahrain. His address detailed decades of conflict and highlighted the ongoing threat posed by Pakistan-backed militant groups. Azad, a native of Jammu and Kashmir, provided a firsthand account of the region’s experiences, detailing the impact of cross-border militancy. He stated that over 40,000 local residents have been killed in the past three decades.
Azad directly implicated the Pakistan Army and the ISI, alleging that they not only support but also actively train and fund terrorist operations. He presented anecdotal evidence, including a personal incident where ISI agents attempted to kidnap his son. He also highlighted the wealth disparity, observing that Pakistani generals often own property abroad, while resources meant for development are diverted to fuel terrorist activities. Azad contrasted India’s economic progress and its export of food grains with Pakistan’s reliance on foreign aid, a situation he attributed to the prioritisation of terrorism over national development.
Azad’s speech was a plea for international condemnation and intervention. He urged global bodies to pressure Pakistan to dismantle its terrorist infrastructure and to hold it accountable for its role in regional instability. He stressed that this is not merely an issue between India and Pakistan, but a matter of international peace and security. The address concluded with a request for continued support from the international community, especially from Bahrain, which had previously issued statements condemning the violence in Kashmir.
