Right of Reply by India in response to the Statements made by Pakistan and OIC at the 38^th Session of the Human Rights Council (18 June to 06 July, 2018) on Agenda Item 4, delivered by Ms Mini Devi Kumam, Second Secretary [27 June 2018, Geneva] 

Mr. President,

India would like to exercise its right of reply to the statement made by Pakistan under this Agenda.

2. We would like to reiterate that we have already out-rightly rejected the OHCHR Report mentioned in Pakistan’s statement in the strongest terms. The report is nothing but a fallacious, tendentious and motivated piece of disinformation. Pakistan’s use of it sounds like a broken record in their desperate attempt to deflect the world’s attention away from their own most dismal situation where they have no respect at all for human rights. It should be a matter of deep concern for the Council that this report undermines the UN-led consensus on terrorism and in fact, legitimizes terrorism by referring to the UN designated terrorist entities as “armed groups” and calling terrorists as “leaders”. Surely, the Council cannot be oblivious of this attempt to legitimize terrorism. In the larger interest of the global fight against terrorism, the overtly prejudiced and false narrative should not be allowed to gain any currency in the Council or anywhere else in the world.

3. It is widely known that the people of Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are reeling under torture, killings and enforced disappearances for their legitimate demands for fundamental rights. The Muslim minorities of Pakistan as well as Pakistan Occupied Kashmir such as Shias, Ahmadiyas, Ismailia and Hazaras are victims of sectarian conflict, terrorism and extreme economic hardship due to Pakistan’s authoritarian and discriminatory policies.

4. Our governments, elected through free and fair elections, are sworn to protecting the Constitution that is the bedrock of all our freedoms. It is the cross border terrorism that seeks to muzzle the voices of our people. The recent gruesome assassination of a senior journalist and his security officers, silencing a voice of moderation, and abduction and brutal killing of a soldier while on his way home for Eid in Jammu and Kashmir, are its chilling reminders. The world does not need lessons on democracy and human rights from a country whose own people have never enjoyed true democracy.

5. As regards the OIC statement, it contains incorrect and misleading reference to the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India. We deeply regret the total lack of understanding in the biased and inconsistent approach in the statement by OIC. India is home to the world's second largest Muslim population. OIC has no locus standi to comment on matters pertaining to India's internal affairs.

Thank you.

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