"Fabricated Narrative By Pakistan": India On Kashmir At UN Rights Body

Pakistan has no locus standi to speak about Kashmir and its "hysterical statements with false narratives" were meant to "politicise this forum", India said on Tuesday in a powerful rebuttal of Islamabad's claims at the United Nation's Human Rights Council in Geneva. Shredding Pakistan minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's claims of human rights violations and possible "genocide" in Jammu and Kashmir in future, India said "Pakistan realises that our decision (to modify Article 370) cuts away ground from under its feet by creating obstacles in its continuing sponsorship of cross-border terrorism".  

Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan -- which has been making repeated unsuccessful efforts to flag Jammu and Kashmir at various international forums -- made its pitch at the meet for an investigation by the global body, adding a series of allegations against India.

Pointing to the arrest of political leaders and the restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir -- part of the government's measures to prevent backlash after its move -- Mr Qureshi said it could lead to "genocide" and hinted at the consequences of such situations in a "nuclearised" Southeast Asia.

Responding to his s remarks, Vimarsh Aryan, a senior official of the foreign ministry said, "Some Pakistani leaders have gone as far as calling for jihad to encourage violence in Jammu and Kashmir and third countries, in order to create a picture of genocide which even they know is far from reality".

"We should call out those who are misusing this platform for malicious political agendas under the garb of human rights," said Vijay Thakur Singh -- the official leading the delegation -- in her address earlier on Tuesday.

India also assured the UN Rights body that despite "challenging circumstances" the administration is ensuring basic services, essential supplies, normal functioning of institutions, mobility and nearly full connectivity.

"Democratic processes have been initiated. Restrictions are being eased continuously," Ms Singh said, pointing out that the preventive and precautionary measures were temporary, necessary to ensure safety and security of people in face of threats of cross-border terrorism.

Accusing Pakistan of conducting cross-border terrorism "as a form of diplomacy", Ms Singh said those who "abet, finance and support terrorism in any form on territory under their control are in truth the worst violators of human rights".

"Those who are attempting to speak on human rights of minorities in other countries whilst trampling upon them at will in their own country... They cry victim when they actually are the perpetrators," she added in a reference to the human rights violations in parts of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

The government's move was an internal matter for India -- decisions taken by parliament in which no nation can brook interference, she said. It was a parliamentary decision to end gender discrimination, and bring in the rights to education, information and work that applies to the rest of the country in Jammu and Kashmir.

Tuesday's clash at the UN is a fallout of Pakistan's relentless campaign against the Centre's move in Jammu and Kashmir. Last month, Pakistan wrote to the United Nations, flagging what it called "massive violations of International Human Rights Law".

But its efforts to gather support among the permanent members of the UN Security Council fell flat as most nations had sided with India, agreeing that the changes in Jammu and Kashmir were an internal matter.