In a forceful address at the high-level segment of the 58th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday, India vehemently countered Pakistan’s recurring allegations regarding Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian delegation, led by Counsellor Kshitij Tyagi, denounced Pakistan’s remarks as “baseless” and “malicious,” accusing its counterpart of habitually echoing discredited narratives propagated by its military establishment.
Addressing the international gathering, Tyagi asserted that Pakistan’s leadership had once again exploited the forum to disseminate “falsehoods handed down by its military-terrorist complex.” He contended that Pakistan’s persistent focus on the Jammu and Kashmir issue was not only unproductive but a deliberate attempt to divert attention from its own domestic shortcomings.
VIDEO | India's Diplomat Kshitij Tyagi delivers India’s Right of Reply against Pakistan at the 58th Human Rights Council session in Geneva.
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(Source: Third Party)
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/CN2mLRG0G6
“Instead of its unhealthy obsession with India, Pakistan should focus on providing actual governance and justice to its own people,” Tyagi stated, adding that the rhetoric from Islamabad was reminiscent of a “failed state” that survives merely on “international handouts” and thrives on instability. His remarks sharply criticized Pakistan for harboring elements that, according to India, have historically fueled cross-border terrorism.
Tyagi underscored that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were, are, and would forever remain an integral part of India. He pointed to unprecedented political, social, and economic progress in the region over recent years as tangible proof of the government’s commitment to restoring normalcy and development in an area long scarred by conflict. “These successes are a testament to the people’s trust in the government’s commitment to bring normalcy to a region scarred by decades of Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism,” he declared.
The Indian official further lambasted Pakistan for what he described as a record marred by human rights abuses, systematic erosion of democratic values, and a propensity to shelter terrorists under UN sanctions. He cautioned that Pakistan’s tendency to misuse international platforms, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation as its propaganda tool, only served to highlight its own deficiencies.
With a call for introspection, Tyagi concluded by reaffirming India’s unwavering dedication to democracy, progress, and the dignity of its people—a stark contrast to what he portrayed as Pakistan’s chronic mismanagement and misguided priorities.