India on Tuesday reiterated Kashmir is an “inalienable” part of its territory and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has no “ locus standi” to raise matters related to the region on international platforms.
Using the Right of Reply at the 46th session of the Human Rights Council, India’s diplomatic team said Pakistan has given ‘pension’ to terrorists and urged Islamabad to focus on its poor economic condition and improve the life of its minority communities.
“The members of this Council are well aware that Pakistan has provided pensions to dreaded and listed terrorists out of State funds and has the dubious distinction of hosting the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the United Nations,” said Pawan Kumar Badhe, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India at the Council. He highlighted the challenges faced by the religious and ethnic minorities of Pakistan and said ‘holy’ sites of the minority groups have been attacked by Pakistan.
The tough exchange came days after India and Pakistan agreed to adhere to the 2003 ceasefire agreement which is being interpreted as early signs of engagement between the two sides who last held high-level dialogue in December 2015. Despite those positive signs at bilateral level, Pakistan and the OIC raised the Kashmir issue at the HRC which drew sharp response from India.
“The Council should ask Pakistan why the size of its minority communities such as Christians, Hindus and Sikhs has drastically shrunk since independence and why they and other communities such as Ahmadiyas, Shias, Pashtuns, Sindhis and Baloch have been subjected to draconian blasphemy laws, systemic persecution, blatant abuses and forced conversions,” said Mr. Badhe.
He also rejected the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the statement of the OIC and said, “It has no locus standi to comment on matters related to Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral and inalienable part of India. It is regrettable that the OIC continues to allow itself to be exploited by Pakistan to indulge in anti-India propaganda.”
