51^st Session of the Human Rights Council
(12 September – 07 October 2022)
Right of Reply under Agenda Item 4: General Debate &nbsp
delivered by Ms. Seema Pujani, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India
[Geneva, 27 September, 2022]

Mr. Vice-President, 

  India is exercising its right of reply in response to the statement delivered by Pakistan under this Agenda Item.

Mr. Vice-President, 

  2. It is ironical that Pakistan, a State whose foundation was laid on communal ideology speaks of communal disharmony and religious intolerance. In its obsession with puritanism, Pakistan has unleashed systematic persecution of its own minorities including Shias, Ahmadiyas, Ismailis and Hazaras, who are subject to sectarian violence and systemic discrimination daily. Abductions, forced conversions and marriages of Hindus, Sikhs and Christians are apt examples of Pakistan’s flourishing policy of religious intolerance and hatred.

  3. Enforced disappearances, state violence and forced mass displacements, harassment, extrajudicial killings, army operations, torture, kill-and-dump, torture camps, detention centres, military camps are rampant in Baluchistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Nobody knows the fate of missing thousands of Balochs and Pashtuns to date.

  4. Pakistan has consistently failed in meeting the global demand for dismantling the terrorism mill in Pakistan that churns out terrorists who are responsible for violating the most fundamental of human rights, the right to life, of people in our region and around the world. The reality is that Pakistan has become a victim of its own State policies to nurture terrorist organizations. As an epicenter of terrorism, Pakistan has posed threat to the security of the countries in the region and beyond. Even as terrorists thrive in Pakistan and roam its streets with impunity, we have heard it lecture about protection of human rights in India. The world does not need lessons on democracy and human rights from a country whose contribution to globalisation of terror is unparalleled. 

  5. We expect nothing better from Pakistani delegation, that harbours a deep sense of insecurity and orchestrated hatred for India, our secular credentials and the values that my country stands for. However, despite its hopeless efforts, the world is able to see through its deceit and double-speak. It is time to hold Pakistan to account and not let them abuse UN platforms for spreading disinformation and emerging malicious propaganda.

I thank you.

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