India slams Pakistan at UNHRC: “Vacate illegally occupied Kashmir”
In a blistering address at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Indian diplomat Kshitij Tyagi delivered a sharp rebuke to Pakistan, dismantling its attempts to internationalize the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Responding to Islamabad’s routine criticisms regarding India’s domestic affairs and minority status, Tyagi firmly asserted that Jammu and Kashmir is an inseparable part of India and challenged Pakistan to end its illegal occupation of the region.
“Integrity of Indian territory”
Tyagi’s intervention served as a stern reminder to the international community that Pakistan’s persistent narrative regarding Kashmir is not only unfounded but hypocritical. “Since Pakistan appears to need the reminder under every agenda item: Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India,” Tyagi stated. He pointedly remarked that the only segment of the territory under foreign control is that which Pakistan holds, urging Islamabad to vacate the region immediately.
Exposing the myth of minority protection
The Indian representative took direct aim at Pakistan’s moral standing, particularly its critique of India’s treatment of minorities. Noting that India serves as a home to one of the world’s largest Muslim populations, Tyagi highlighted that Indian citizens of all faiths actively participate in the democratic process, holding positions in the judiciary and leading major state institutions.
Conversely, Tyagi presented a grim reality for minorities living within Pakistan. He pointed to the drastic demographic decline of Hindu, Sikh, and Christian populations in Pakistan since its inception. He detailed the systemic vulnerabilities faced by these groups, including the frequent abduction of girls, forced religious conversions, and the constant threat posed by stringent blasphemy laws. Furthermore, he highlighted the persecution of Pakistan’s own Muslim minorities, such as the Shia, Ahmadiyya, Ismaili, and Hazara communities, whose places of worship are frequently subjected to violent attacks.
A history of state-sponsored terror
Reframing the discourse on Kashmir, Tyagi reminded the Council of the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, who were forcibly driven from their ancestral homes by militants backed by the Pakistani state. He underscored the irony of a nation that historically facilitated cross-border terrorism now appealing to international bodies for inquiries. “The State that sponsored them is now asking this Council for an inquiry. The irony will not be lost on this Council,” he asserted.
Focus on internal collapse
Tyagi concluded his remarks by pivoting to Pakistan’s dire economic straits. He advised Islamabad to prioritize the welfare of its own citizens and national development rather than coveting foreign territory or promoting terrorism. He noted that such “theatrics” at the UNHRC would do nothing to alleviate the country’s economic instability or help it repay the crushing mountain of foreign debt upon which its economy relies.
Growing scrutiny at the UNHRC
The session also saw wider concerns raised regarding human rights abuses within Pakistan. Representatives brought forward alarming accounts regarding the Balochistan region, citing incidents of enforced disappearances and the detention of activists. The plight of leaders from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee was a focal point, with speakers highlighting the lack of due process in legal proceedings and the systematic intimidation of those seeking to highlight human rights violations in the region.
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