Right of Reply by India under Agenda Item 8 at the 43rd Session (resumed) of the Human Rights Council (15-19 June 2020), delivered by Mr. Vimarsh Aryan, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India [Geneva, 16 June 2020]

Madam Vice-President,

I have been compelled to take the floor to exercise India's right of reply in response to the mendacious statement made by Pakistan under Agenda item 8.

2. It is very unfortunate, however, not unexpected from the deep state of Pakistan which is continuing incessant abuse of its membership of this august Council for propagating an illegal, immoral and inhuman territorial ambition.

3. As a responsible member of this Council India would like to remind Pakistan that the Agenda under discussion is VDPA. Instead of squandering the opportunity for a self-serving propaganda, following is what the Pakistan should be more focussed on: 

1. Part II, para 25, of the VDPA calls for ways and means to promote and protect effectively the rights of persons belonging to all minorities. However, what we are witnessing in Pakistan is unabated torture, maiming and systematic persecution of religious minorities. The attacks on a Hindu funeral procession and a Christian church couple of days ago in Sindh and Punjab provinces, respectively, portray the horrific plight of various minorities in Pakistan.
2. This epicentre of global terrorism very irresponsibly harps on self-determination of the already democratic Jammu and Kashmir, but very conveniently ignores that the VDPA very explicitly states that the principle of self-determination must not be used as a garb to promote activities detrimental to the territorial integrity and political unity of Member States in violation of the UN Charter. I would ask Pakistani delegation to properly understand Part I, para 17 of the VDPA on terrorism, before pretending to be a promoter of Human Rights, while most grisly of the human rights violators i.e. terrorists breed under its nose.
3. I would once again invoke VDPA to ask Pakistan to abjure its territorial ambition which is grossly violative of all Human Rights. Instead they should practice tolerance towards their minorities and good neighbourliness towards us so that the South Asian region sees eternal peace the absence of which can mostly be attributed to Pakistani deep state.

Madam Vice-President,

4. As the biggest victim of the cross-border terrorism emanating from this pernicious cradle of terrorism we would like to inform this Council that Pakistan is a country whose former President and Prime Ministers including the incumbent one have openly acknowledged the support and inter-operational linkages between their state machinery and the UN proscribed terrorist organizations.

5. Jammu & Kashmir has been, is and will continue to be an integral part of India and Pakistan should cease to covet it.

Thank You, Madam Vice-President.

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