New Delhi: Rebutting Pakistan’s allegations that India has “illegally” altered the status of Jammu and Kashmir at the United Nations Human Rights Council meet in Geneva Tuesday, India said the 5 August decision to scrap J&K’s special status and bifurcate it into two union territories is “entirely internal to India”.
Without naming Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs’ Secretary (East), Vijay Thakur Singh, said the UNHRC should call out those who are “misusing” the platform for a “malicious political agenda” under the garb of human rights.
“They cry victim when they actually are the perpetrators,” she told the 42nd session of the UNHRC in an obvious reference to Pakistan.
Singh spoke after Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and, referring to his statement, added: “One delegation has given a running commentary with offensive rhetoric of false allegations and concocted charges against my country. The world is aware that this fabricated narrative comes from the epicentre of global terrorism, where ring leaders were sheltered for years. This nation conducts cross-border terrorism as a form of alternate diplomacy.”
Singh made the statement in the presence of India’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria, who is leading the delegation in Geneva.
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‘Democratic processes initiated’
Singh reiterated that India’s decision to scrap J&K’s special status was a “sovereign decision”, which, “like other legislations passed by Parliament, is entirely internal to India. No country can accept interference in its internal affairs, certainly not India”.
She added that despite challenging circumstances, Jammu & Kashmir’s civil administration is ensuring basic services, essential supplies, normal functioning of institutions, mobility and nearly full connectivity.
“Democratic processes have been initiated. Restrictions are being eased continuously. Temporary preventive and precautionary measures were necessitated to ensure safety and security of our citizens in the face of credible threats of cross-border terrorism,” she said.
Pakistan’s allegations
Qureshi had said that India calling the developments in J&K its internal matter was “blatantly false”. He said the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is disputed at the UN.
“(It is a) disputed and occupied territory as affirmed by international law. The situation in the occupied territory, therefore, should be of international concern,” he said.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, had appealed to India Monday “to ease the current lockdowns or curfews; to ensure people’s access to basic services; and that all due process is respected for those who have been detained”.
This led Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan to urge the UN for a deeper probe into alleged human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir.
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