India on Thursday slammed Pakistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), saying “Pakistan has no locus standi to pronounce on matters that are internal to India”.
These remarks were made by Anupama Singh, India’s first secretary, at the 55th Regular Session of the UNHRC, countering Pakistan’s recent allegations regarding Jammu and Kashmir.
With regard to the extensive references to India made by Pakistan, we note that it is deeply unfortunate for the Council’s platform to have once again been misused to make patently false allegations against India,” Ms Singh stated. “
She said, “The entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and the constitutional measures taken by the Government of India to ensure socio-economic development and good governance in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are matters internal to India”.
Anupama highlighted incidents of persecution against minorities, pointing out the August 2023 Jaranwala issue wherein 19 churches were gutted, and 89 Christian houses burnt down.
“A country that hosts and even celebrates UNSC-sanctioned terrorists, commenting on India, whose pluralistic ethos and democratic credentials are exemplars for the world, is a contrast for everyone to see,” Anupama Singh said in her speech.
“To Turkey, who also supported Pakistan’s comments on Jammu and Kashmir, a warning was issued.
“We regret the comment made by Turkiye on the matter that is an internal affair of India, and hope that it would refrain from making unsolicited comments on our internal matters in the future,” India’s First Secretary said.
