India Exercises ‘Right of Reply,’ Rejects Pakistan’s Comments at UN Human Rights Council

India delivered a strong rebuttal to Pakistan’s comments at the UN Human Rights Council, asserting its “Right of Reply” and condemning Pakistan’s “truly abysmal” human rights record. First Secretary Anupama Singh, speaking at the high-level segment of the 55th Regular Session, stated that Pakistan, a nation with systemic persecution of minorities, has no right to comment on India’s internal matters.

Singh expressed regret over Turkey’s comments on India’s internal affairs and hoped for refraining from unsolicited remarks in the future. Emphasizing that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India, she declared that Pakistan has no standing to comment on India’s internal issues.

Highlighting Pakistan’s dismal human rights record, Singh pointed to the large-scale brutality against the Christian community in Jaranwala city in August 2023. She criticized Pakistan for hosting and celebrating UNSC-sanctioned terrorists, contrasting it with India’s pluralistic ethos and democratic credentials.

The Indian representative’s response comes as part of ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, with India reiterating its desire for normal neighborly relations, contingent on an environment free of terror and hostility. Pakistan, grappling with economic difficulties, has faced criticism for its human rights situation and support for terrorism.