Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

India hits out at Pakistan for raising Kashmir at UN meet

India exercised its ‘Right of Reply’ to respond to Turkiye and Pakistan after the two countries made references to Kashmir in their statements

India hits out at Pakistan for raising Kashmir at UN meet

India has refuted Pakistan's allegations of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir in the UN Human Rights Council and countered it by highlighting Islamabad's poor track record in treating its minorities.

At the 55th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council, India exercised its 'Right of Reply' to respond to Turkiye and Pakistan after the two countries made references to Kashmir in their statements.


The first secretary in the permanent mission of India to the UN in Geneva Anupama Singh took the floor and said, “Firstly, we regret the comment made by Turkiye on a 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.”

Coming down heavily on Pakistan, the Indian diplomat said it was unfortunate that Pakistan was misusing the Council's platform to make "patently false allegations against India".

She reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and any measures taken in the region are internal matters.

"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. Pakistan has no locus standi to pronounce on matters that are internal to India," the diplomat said.

Singh then pointed out that Pakistan's own human rights record was abysmal.

She highlighted incidents of persecution against minorities, such as the brutal attacks on the Christian community in Jaranwala city in 2023.

She also drew attention to Pakistan's support for UNSC-sanctioned terrorists. This was about terror outfit leaders like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed and Jaish-e Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar enjoying the backing of the government in Pakistan.

She said such a country commenting on a pluralistic and democratic India is "not merely ironical but perverse".

In her concluding remarks, she described Pakistan as a country soaked in red – "the red of the bloodshed from the terrorism it sponsors around the world; the red of its debt-riddled national balance sheets; and the red of the shame its people feel for their government having failed to serve their actual interests."

The UN Human Rights Council session is taking place from February 26 to April 5.

Last year, India emphasized the need for an environment free of terror for normal ties with Pakistan. (Agencies)

More For You

Southport stabbings: Terrorism watchdog rejects definition change

FILE PHOTO: Riot police hold back protesters near a burning police vehicle in Southport, England (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Southport stabbings: Terrorism watchdog rejects definition change

TERRORISM watchdog has rejected calls to redefine terrorism following last summer's tragic Southport murders, while recommending a new offence to tackle those intent on mass killings without clear ideological motives.

Jonathan Hall KC, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, published his highly anticipated report on Thursday (13), concluding that the existing definition of terrorism should remain unchanged despite growing concerns about violent attackers with unclear motives.

Keep ReadingShow less
Commonwealth wreath-laying ceremony held in London

A military piper, choir, and the Sikh soldiers of the British Army took part in the ceremony.

Commonwealth wreath-laying ceremony held in London

A WREATH-LAYING ceremony was held at the Memorial Gates on Constitution Hill in London on 10 March to honour Commonwealth servicemen and women who fought in the First and Second World Wars.

Lord Boateng, chairman of the Memorial Gates Council, led the event, highlighting the importance of remembering those who served.

Keep ReadingShow less
Student visas

The ongoing negotiations focus specifically on business mobility, addressing only the relevant business visas

iStock

Student visas excluded from UK-India FTA talks, says government

THE government last week clarified that only temporary business mobility visas are part of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.

Other types of visas, such as student visas, will not be included in the trade deal, it was revealed during a debate in the House of Lords.

Keep ReadingShow less
India Detains Crypto Administrator Wanted by US for Laundering

Aleksej Besciokov, was charged with money laundering and accused of violating sanctions and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, according to the US Justice Department. (Photo: US Secret Service)

India arrests crypto administrator wanted by US for money laundering

INDIAN authorities have arrested a cryptocurrency exchange administrator at the request of the United States on charges of money laundering conspiracy and sanctions violations, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Wednesday.

The arrest follows a joint operation by the United States, Germany, and Finland, which dismantled the online infrastructure of Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Getty

Starmer said that the change would free up funds for doctors, nurses, and frontline services while reducing red tape to accelerate improvements in the health system. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer scraps NHS England, brings health service under ministerial control

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer has abolished NHS England, bringing the health service under direct ministerial control.

The decision reverses a key reform introduced by former health secretary Andrew Lansley during the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, The Guardian reported.

Keep ReadingShow less