First Right of Reply by India under Agenda Item 3 at the 41^st Session of the Human Rights Council (24 June – 12 July 2019) delivered by Mr. Vimarsh Aryan, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India [Geneva, 1 July 2019]

Madam Vice President

India exercises its right of reply in response to the mendacious Pakistani propaganda that is incessantly being propagated in this august forum.

2. The principles of self-determination as espoused by Pakistan pose severe dangers to several countries in the world where multi-ethnic and multi-religious societies coexist. In contravention of the UN Charter, the concept cannot be used as an instrument to promote subversion and erode the political cohesion or territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Member states. What is portrayed by Pakistan as self-determination is actually State-sponsored cross-border terrorism and the support actually means extending military, financial, logistical support to terrorism against India.

3.  The biggest problem in Jammu and Kashmir comes from active promotion of cross border terrorism by Pakistan and the most basic right i.e. the right to life of the people of Jammu and Kashmir is constantly violated by Pakistan through the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy. Pakistan with its selective amnesia chooses to conveniently recall only 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 PoJK. Pakistan should fulfill its commitments under the 1972 Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration of 1999.

4. The entire State of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. The people of Jammu & Kashmir have nurtured a vibrant democracy ensuring a life of dignity for all.

5.  It is wishful thinking of Pakistan that it could deceive the world through its false and fanciful narratives on human rights. History has witnessed how Pakistan unleashed the most barbaric and dreadful atrocities that mankind could never imagine against millions of innocent civilians in 1971.

6. Is it not an irony that a country with such distinction is making attempts to preach the world on human rights? We once again ask Pakistan not to waste the time of this esteemed Council by indulging in futile political propaganda, focus on its own dismal human rights record and work constructively for a safe, stable, secure and developed South Asian Region which is free from terror and violence.

I thank You Madam Vice President.

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