India on Thursday responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s remarks at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and called it a terrorist state, while accusing Islamabad of using terrorism as an “instrument of state policy”, PTI reported. India’s First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, Eenam Gambhir, responded to what she called a “long tirade” from Pakistan and called the country the “Ivy League of terrorism”. “It is ironical therefore that we have seen today the preaching of human rights and ostensible support for self-determination by a country which has established itself as the global epicentre of terrorism,” she said.

Sharif had spoken at length about Kashmir and had also referred to Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani (who was killed by Indian forces on July 8) as a “leader”. Sharif said Pakistan was willing to discuss Kashmir with India at any time, but claimed that India posed “unacceptable preconditions” for dialogue – a reference to New Delhi's demand that Pakistan move ahead with its prosecution of the attackers in the 26/11 Mumbai Attacks and the Pathankot attacks before further talks.

On Sharif’s praise for Burhan Wani, Gambhir said, “It [Pakistan] extends support to extremist groups, it suppresses minorities and women and denies basic human rights through draconian laws”. She added that the country carried out “war crimes” through its “long-standing policy” of sponsoring terrorism. “The worst violation of human rights is terrorism,” she said.

India also brought up Pakistan’s nuclear arms issue, and said its nuclear proliferation record has been marred by “deception and deceit”, even though it spoke of restraint. “Similar false promises it has made to us – the international community on terrorism. Perhaps renunciation of lies and self-restraint on threats could be a good place for Pakistan to start,” Gambhir said.

The speech comes amid diplomatic efforts from India to isolate Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri attack, including encouraging other South Asian nations to single out Pakistan as a source of terrorism. Relations between the two countries deteriorated after Wani’s killing, and worsened after the September 18 attack on the Uri Army base that left 18 soldiers dead.

United States legislators have also introduced a Bill in the House of Representatives, seeking a terror tag for Pakistan. India believes Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed orchestrated the attack on the Uri base. Pakistan, however, refuted the accusation and asked for "actionable evidence" to prove it.