Permanent Mission of India
34th Session of Human Rights Council
High Level Segment
Right or Reply exercised by India on March 1, 2017
My delegation wishes to exercise its right of reply in response to the statement made by Pakistan.
We deeply regret Pakistan’s continued misuse of the Council to make tendentious references about internal matters pertaining to the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. Pakistan has had territorial ambitions over Kashmir since 1947 that have found concrete expression in the aggression it embarked on in 1947, 1965 and 1999. As on date, Pakistan is in illegal and forcible occupation of approximately 78,000 sq kms of Indian Territory in Jammu & Kashmir.
Terrorism is the grossest violation of human rights. It is unfortunate that Pakistan’s trust in the methods of terror are so deep that it does not hesitate from using them on its own people in Baluchistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as the tribal areas in its northwest. While advocating restraint to others, it has no hesitation in using air power against its own people. This coupled with the utter disregard for the human rights of religious and sectarian minorities has turned Pakistan into the true epicenter of global terror.
In Pakistan, we are dealing with a state that regards the use of terrorism as a legitimate instrument of statecraft and provides sanctuary to UN-designated terrorists. The consequences of Pakistan’s actions have spread beyond its immediate neighbors and the international community has finally begun to realize the dangers of Pakistan’s dalliance with terror.
Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so. We have a robust institutional framework to ensure adherence to rule of law and respect for fundamental rights of the people in Jammu & Kashmir. In contrast, the people of Pakistan as well as Pakistan Occupied Kashmir have become victims of sectarian conflict, terrorism and extreme economic hardship due to Pakistan’s authoritarian and discriminatory policies in complete disregard of human rights.
Pakistan will be well-advised to focus its energies on setting its own house in order and acting against the perpetrators of terrorist attacks on its neighbours instead of ritually raking up alleged human rights violations elsewhere. We, once again, ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of India and refrain from meddling in our internal affairs in any manner. We also call upon the Council to urge Pakistan to fulfill its obligation under UN Security Council resolutions to vacate illegal occupation of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
We note with regret that the delegate from the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) has used this august Council to comment upon India's internal affairs. We condemn and reject this. Inherent in OIC's statements on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is a complete inability to understand India’s position. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the OIC has no locus standi in matters concerning India's internal affairs.
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