Right of Reply by India in response to the Statements made by Pakistan and OIC at the 39th Session of the Human Rights Council (10 to 28 September, 2018) on Agenda Item 2, delivered by Ms Mini Devi Kumam, First Secretary [11 September 2018, Geneva]

Mr. President,

India exercises its right of reply to the statement made by Pakistan under Agenda Item 2.

2.         We reject Pakistan's futile efforts to rake up the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, including through repeated references to the motivated and fallacious report which we have outrightly rejected. The entire State of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India. There can be no doubt on this fact.

3.         The people of J&K, as citizens of India, have repeatedly reposed their faith in Indian democracy by actively participating in free and fair elections held at all levels. We have robust and effective mechanisms to address all challenges in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and protect their legitimate interests. The main challenge in Jammu and Kashmir is cross border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. In 2017 alone, unrelenting cross-border terrorism from Pakistan was responsible for 342 terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir resulting in the death of 120 civilian and security personnel.

Mr. President,

4.         Is it not an irony that a State, which protected Osama Bin Laden and sheltered Mullah Omar is raising human rights concerns? Even as we approach 10 years of Mumbai terrorist attacks, their perpetrators continue to roam freely in Pakistan.The fact that UN proscribed terrorist entities and individuals actively campaigned and contested in the recently held elections reflects the deplorable state of affairs in Pakistan. Terrorism originating from Pakistan remains the biggest threat to regional and global peace and security.  

6.         No amount of hyperbole can hide the dismal human rights record of Pakistan, which has been systematically violating the rights and freedoms of people of POK including exploitation of their natural resources. Extrajudicial killings and disappearances in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continue to be the order of the day. Minorities are harassed through blasphemy laws. Forced conversions and marriages of minority women are routinely carried out with impunity. Even Muslim minorities such as Shias, Ahmadiyas, Ismailia and Hazaras are victims to sectarian violence and systemic persecution.

7.         Pakistan with its amnesic tendency chooses to conveniently recall parts of the UN resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir. We would like to remind the Council that it was Pakistan that wrecked the UNSC resolutions by not meeting its primary obligation to first vacate the illegal occupation of POK.  Pakistan should put a stop to its continued aggression against the people of Jammu and Kashmir and fulfill its commitments under the 1972 Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration of 1999.

Mr. President,

8.         We also reject the reference to Jammu and Kashmir made by Pakistan on behalf of OIC. The OIC has no locus standi to comment on the internal affairs of India. The OIC would be well advised to not allow itself to be misused by an errant member whose greatest and only contribution to the region and the world has been the malice of terrorism.

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