India slams Pakistan's 'deep state' as both face off over Kashmir at UN

India and Pakistan continued to trade diplomatic barbs over Kashmir at the UN Human Rights Council, with Islamabad raising the issue of "unceasing oppression" even as New Delhi hit back, saying "Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is administered by a "deep state" and also raked up alleged human rights violations in Balochistan.

A day after both sides were locked in a diplomatic stand-off over Kashmir, ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's address to the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, the exchange continued at the 33rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Under the Right to Reply, India countered Pakistan for raising the issue of alleged human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir, terming its "unsolicited and unwarranted comments" as "factually incorrect and bear no relationship to reality".

India slammed Pakistan for continually referring to the UN Security Council Resolutions on Jammu & Kashmir, saying that Islamabad "very conveniently forgets its own obligation under these resolutions which is to acefirst vacate the illegal occupation of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir". It also accused Pakistan of "blatantly disregarding" its commitments under the 1972 Simla Agreement, the 2004 Joint Declaration foreswearing terrorism, and the understanding reached at Ufa, Russia,in 2015.

India countered Pakistan for saying that Jammu and Kashmir was under foreign occupation, saying "Yes, a part of it is, and the occupier in question is Pakistan".

It said that the "foremost challenge to stability in Kashmir is the scourge of terrorism, which receives sustenance from Pakistan and the territories under Pakistan's control".

India said it has handed over "Concrete evidence about cross-border encouragement and support for the protests in Kashmir" to Pakistan, but instead of trying to address the issue, "Pakistan resorts to short-sighted tactics to divert attention".

"Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is administered by a deep state and has become an epicentre of terrorism. Pakistan's human rights record in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and Balochistan is deplorable. It has had no hesitation in using air power and artillery against its own people, not once but repeatedly over the years. It is high time for Pakistan to do some deep introspection," India said.

It urged Pakistan to focus on "improving human rights situation and dismantling the terrorism infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir".

Under its Second Right to Reply, India slammed Pakistan, saying it was ironical that a nation "that has established a well earned reputation of being the global epicentre of terrorism" was holding forth on human rights.

"In the last two decades, the most wanted terrorists of the world have found succor and sustenance in Pakistan. This tradition unfortunately continues even today, not surprising when its government employs terrorism as an instrument of state policy," it said.

India said the current unrest in Jammu and Kashmir began after the death "in police action of a self-proclaimed terrorist commander of Hizbul Mujahideen with links to the adeep state' across the border".

"Since then, we have seen continuous flow of terrorists trained and armed by our neighbour and convincing proof that they have been tasked with creating incidents that would lead to casualties in the civilian population,"India said.

"There cannot be a more cynical policy that targets the very people for whom such deep concern is professed."

It said the pervasive practice of terrorism was also hurting neighbors.

"In fact, Pakistan is a nation that practises terrorism on its own people. The sufferings of the people of Balochistan are a telling testimony in this regard. Not coincidentally, this region also serves as a base to conduct terrorism and violate human rights in a neighbouring country."

India urged the UN Human Rights Council to take a "clear cut stance against the egregious violation of human rights through state-sponsored terrorism".

Nearly 90 people have died in clashes with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani.

The sharp exchanges come as Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met leaders of the Hurriyat in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir, with the aim of raising the issue of alleged human rights violations in Kashmir at the UNGA.