India on Wednesday slammed both Pakistan and Turkey after they raked up the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). This comes as both Islamabad and Ankara are known for making “unsolicited comments” on Kashmir at international forums, while New Delhi firmly maintains its longstanding stance on its internal affairs.
Speaking at the High-Level Segment of the 55th Regular Session of the UNHRC, India’s First Secretary Anupama Singh regretted attempts made by Turkey to bring up the Kashmir issue and hoped that it would refrain from making remarks on India’s internal matters in the future.
India exercises Right of Reply against Pakistan at #HRC55 pic.twitter.com/rdTMVWYmFT
— India at UN, Geneva (@IndiaUNGeneva) February 28, 2024
‘NO LOCUS STANDI’
Exercising the country’s Right of Reply, the Indian diplomat also rebuked Pakistan, saying a country that hosts and even celebrates UNSC-sanctioned terrorists, commenting on India whose pluralistic ethos and democratic credentials are exemplars for the world, is a contrast for everyone to see.
“With regard to the extensive references to India made by Pakistan, it is deeply unfortunate for the Council’s platform to have once again been misused to make patently false allegations against India. We are constrained to respond, but as we don’t wish to similarly waste the Council’s time, we will make only three points,” India’s First Secretary said.
She reiterated that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral and inalienable part of India. “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,” she said.
