First Right of Reply by India under Agenda Item 2 at the 41st Session of the Human Rights Council (24 June – 12 July 2019) delivered by Mr. Vimarsh Aryan, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India [Geneva, 25th June 2019] First Right of Reply by India under Agenda Item 2 at the 41st Session of the Human Rights Council (24 June – 12 July 2019) delivered by Mr. Vimarsh Aryan, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India [Geneva, 25th June 2019]

First Right of Reply by India under Agenda Item 2 at the 41st Session of the Human Rights Council (24 June – 12 July 2019) delivered by Mr. Vimarsh Aryan, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India [Geneva, 25th June 2019]

First Right of Reply by India under Agenda Item 2 at the 41st Session of the Human Rights Council (24 June – 12 July 2019) delivered by Mr. Vimarsh Aryan, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India [Geneva, 25th June 2019]

Thank you, Mr. Vice President

India exercises its right of reply to the misleading narratives by Pakistan. Our position on the Remote Report on Kashmir has been made very clear, and as far as India is concerned, it is a closed chapter. India also reiterates that the OIC has no locus standi to comment on internal affairs of India.

2. The entire State of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. While harping on “Plebiscite”, Pakistan forgets that it never met its own obligations to first vacate the illegally occupied territories in accordance with the UN resolutions. 

Mr. President

3. I seek indulgence of this August forum to illustrate how Pakistan attempts to divert the attention of the world from its abysmal human rights records.

Pakistan today is the Epicenter of terrorism. It has 24 terrorist groups that have been proscribed by the UN Security Council.

Despite the international pressure, Pakistan has merely taken cosmetic action against these terrorist groups leaving them to continue their nefarious activities under different names.

Thousands of people have suffered enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings. Muslim minorities such as Ahmaddiyas face discriminatory laws and are declared to be non-Muslims.

Deliberate discriminatory policies have caused extreme poverty, underdevelopment, forcible deprivation of land. Every single voice of dissent in Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir; be it media, civil society, political dissidents is constantly muzzled.

4. Pakistan would do well by stopping support to cross border terrorism to its neighbourhood and beyond so that the entire neighbourhood could focus on development and prosperity efforts. Mr. President, we also ask Pakistan to introspect its abysmal human rights situation before preaching others and exposing itself as the champion of hypocrisy.

I thank You Mr. President!

*****