Exercising its right of reply, India, raising the Balochistan issue second time in three days at the UNHRC, said the irony of a nation that has established a well-earned reputation of being the global epicentre of terrorism holding forth on human rights.
"It surely is the height of hypocrisy for a Government that preaches, practises, encourages and nurtures terrorism to venture into the subject of human rights," India said.
India also said it has 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.
"There cannot be a more cynical policy that targets the very people for whom such deep concern is professed... The pervasive practice of terrorism is not targeting India alone. Many of our neighbours have suffered as grievously from cross-border terrorism and interference in their internal affairs," it said.
"It was stated that Jammu and Kashmir is under foreign occupation. Yes, a part of it is, and the occupier in question is Pakistan," India said.
India said that concrete evidence about cross-border
encouragement and support for the protests in Kashmir has been handed over to Pakistan. But, "instead of working with a sense of purpose to address this issue, Pakistan resorts to short- sighted tactics to divert attention, as we have once again seen today".
The people of Jammu and Kashmir have chosen and reaffirmed their destiny repeatedly through India's well-established democratic processes. Free, fair and open elections are regularly held there at all levels. Pakistan, on the other hand, has witnessed continuous degradation and weakening of its institutions.
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is administered by a 'deep state' and has become an epicenter of terrorism.
"We would once again urge Pakistan to focus its energies on improving human rights situation and dismantling the terrorism infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. This would go a long way in bringing peace and stability to the region and beyond," India added.
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