United Nations (UN): Charging Pakistan with trying to foster a climate of fear and instability during elections in Jammu and Kashmir, India has said that the people of the state have shown their preference to the ballot over the bullet and expressed "unflinching" resolve to fight terrorism.

"Our commitment to the rule of law remains undiminished despite state-sponsored cross-border terrorism taking 'horrendous' toll of tens of thousands of lives during the last two decades," India's Ambassador to the UN V K Nambiar told the Security Council on October 4.

Despite campaign of "terror and intimidation" inspired by Pakistan, he said that people of Jammu and Kashmir have shown that their preferred choice is the ballot to the bullet" – a preference seen in all democratic societies.

Speaking about ruthlessness of terrorists, he reminded the Council of recent attack on a temple in Gujarat, which left more than 30 innocent men, women and children dead.

Calling for a global concerted fight against terrorism, Nambiar said that it is the common enemy of all peoples, of all beliefs and all religions.

"It is a disorder which seeks to undermine peaceful, democratic and co-operative order that most civil societies aspire to attain," he added.

Participating on the debate on 'Threats of international peace and security caused by terrorists', he said that it is intended to cause physical, psychological, social and political damage of the scale that is meant to destabilise and communities and to disrupt and retard peace, economic progress and development, social harmony and political institution building.

In this context, he warned that open, democratic and liberal societies are most vulnerable to this scourge.

PTI