India raises the issue of Human Rights violations by Pak in Balochistan at UN

While reiterating that Pakistan continues to be in illegal occupation of a large part of territory in Jammu and Kashmir, India taking a jibe at Islamabad on Wednesday raised the issue of Human Rights violations in Balochistan by the country at the UN during the 33rd regular session of Human Rights Council.

Giving a befitting reply to Pakistan for alleging human rights violations in India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement said that Islamabad is characterised by authoritarianism, absence of democratic norms and widespread human rights violations across the country including Balochistan.

"Pakistan has alleged human rights violations in India. Our credentials as a peaceful, democratic, pluralistic society that is deeply committed to the welfare of its people are well established. On the contrary, Pakistan is characterised by authoritarianism, absence of democratic norms and widespread human rights violations across the country including Balochistan," the statement said.

The statement instead lashed out at Pakistan, saying that it should focus its energies on improving human rights situation within Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

"It will be in the fitness of things if instead of ritually raking up alleged human rights violations elsewhere, Pakistan were to focus its energies on improving human rights situation within Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir," the statement said.

The statement also emphasized that Pakistan should talk action against the perpetrators of terrorist attacks on its neighbours who are roaming freely in the country with impunity, so that terrorism emanating from Pakistan - the gravest risk for peace and stability of the region - could be addressed effectively.

Also terming that fundamental reason for disturbances in Kashmir is the cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan which has provided active support since 1989 to separatist groups and terrorist elements including those operating from the territory under Pakistan's control, the statement pointed out that Islamabad's dismal track record is well known and many countries have repeatedly called upon Pakistan to end cross-border infiltration, dismantle the terrorism infrastructure, and stop acting as an epicentre of terrorism.

"We strongly reject Pakistan's continued misuse of the Council to make tendentious references about internal matters pertaining to the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. This stems from Pakistan's territorial ambitions over Kashmir that has found concrete expression in repeated armed aggressions," the statement said.

The institutions of governance in Pakistan have corroded to such an extent that it has become a hub for the global export of terror, the statement emphasized.