United Nations: The world sees Pakistan as the “epicenter” of terrorism, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday, arguing that the international community has not forgotten where the threat comes from, despite the brain fog caused by more than two years of Covid-19 . He made the remarks while addressing reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations Security Council after a signing event held under the Indian presidency of the Council on “Global Counter-Terrorism Approach: Challenges and Way Forward”. “As far as what they say, the truth is that everyone, the world today sees them as the epicenter of terrorism,” he said. “I know we have been through two and a half years of Covid and many of us have brain fog as a result. But I assure you that the world has not forgotten where terrorism comes from, which has its fingerprints on many activities in the region and beyond region. “Well, I would say it’s something they should remind themselves of before they indulge in the kind of fantasies they do,” he added. Mr Jaishankar was responding to a question about Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar’s recent claim that “no country had used terrorism better than India”. He cited US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who in a 2011 joint press conference with Pakistan’s then foreign minister, Khar, said: “You can’t keep snakes in your backyard and expect them to bite only your neighbors.” “I read the reports about what Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said. And it reminded me, more than a decade ago, my memory is failing me. Hillary Clinton was visiting Pakistan. And Hina Rabbani Khar was a minister at the time.” , Mr Jaishankar said while replying to a question on Khar’s recent statements on a dossier against India. “Standing next to her, Hillary Clinton actually said that if you have snakes in your yard, you can’t just expect them to bite your neighbors. Eventually, they will bite the people who keep them in the yard. Pakistan is not great at taking good advice. You see what’s going on there,” he said. Pakistan should clean up its act and try to be a good neighbour, Mr Jaishankar said, stressing that the world is not “stupid” and is increasingly calling out countries, organizations and people who indulge in terrorism. “You know, you’re asking the wrong minister when you say how long are we going to do this? Because it’s the ministers of Pakistan who will tell you how long Pakistan intends to practice terrorism,” Jaishankar said. #WATCH |…It is ministers in Pakistan who can tell how long Pakistan intends to practice terrorism. People are not stupid, increasingly calling out countries, organizations indulging in terrorism… my advice is to clean up your act and try to be a good neighbour: EAM S Jaishankar in New York pic.twitter.com/BJYmNcb2Oj — ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2022 He was responding to a question from a Pakistani journalist about how long terrorism will spread in South Asia from New Delhi, Kabul and Pakistan. “At the end of the day, the world is not stupid, the world is not forgetful. And the world is increasingly calling out countries and organizations and people who engage in terrorism,” he said. “By taking this conversation elsewhere, you’re not going to hide it. You’re not going to confuse anyone anymore. People have figured it out. So my advice is, please, clean up your act. Try to be a good neighbor. “Please try and contribute to what the rest of the world is trying to do today, which is economic growth, progress and development,” Mr Jaishankar said. (Other than the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published by a syndicated feed.)
