India raises Balochistan at UN, accuses Pak of rights violations

Geneva, September 14 

Raising the issue of Balochistan for the first time before the UN, India today accused Pakistan of widespread human rights violations there as well as in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

In a scathing attack on Pakistan during the 33rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council here, India said the main “reason for disturbance in Kashmir is the cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan” that stems from its territorial ambitions over the place that has found concrete expression in repeated armed aggressions.

Pakistan’s dismal track record is well known and many nations have repeatedly called upon Pakistan to end cross-border infiltration; dismantle the terrorism infrastructure; and stop acting as an epicentre of terrorism, said Ajit Kumar, India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative at the UN in Geneva.

India’s credentials as a peaceful, democratic, pluralistic society that is  committed to the welfare of its people are well established and on the contrary, Pakistan is characterised by authoritarianism, absence of democratic norms and widespread human rights violations across the country, including Balochistan, he said.  Exercising its right of reply to the statement made by Pakistan, Kumar said Pakistan is a country, which has systematically abused and violated the human rights of its own citizens, including in Balochistan, as well as of the people of PoK.

“The fundamental reason for disturbance in Kashmir is the cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan, which has actively supported separatist groups and terrorist elements since 1989. J&K is an integral part of India and will always remain so. We reject attempts by Pakistan to denigrate the democratic choice that has been regularly exercised by the people of J&K,” he said. — PTI