India on Wednesday slammed Pakistan and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for raising the Kashmir situation at the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) and said that it does not need lessons from a “failed state” like Pakistan which is the “epicentre of terrorism and worst abuser of human rights”.
Responding to OIC’s comments on Kashmir made at the 48th session of UNHRC, India’s first secretary on a permanent mission in Geneva Pawan Badhe said the grouping has “helplessly” allowed itself to be held “hostage” by Pakistan. The OIC is an international organization founded in 1969, consisting of 57 member states out of which 49 are Muslim majority countries.
The Indian representative further said that Islamabad has been globally recognised as a country openly supporting, training, financing and arming terrorists including UN proscribed terrorists as a matter of state policy.
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Badhe further said that India is a robustly functional and vibrant democracy and that it does not need lessons from Pakistan which muzzles dissenting voices from civil societies, human rights defenders, journalists with the help of the government.
“The council is aware of Pakistan’s attempts to divert the council’s attention from serious human rights violations being perpetrated by its government, including in the territories occupied by it,” Badhe said. “India, as not only the world’s largest democracy but a robustly functional and vibrant one, does not need lessons from a failed state like Pakistan which is the epicentre of terrorism and worst abuser of human rights,” he added.
Badhe took a jibe at Islamabad for not protecting its minorities and called out the violence that has been taking place against minorities. He said that thousands of women and girls are forced to marry, convert and it is engaged in systematic persecution, forced conversions, targeted killings, sectarian violence and faith-based discrimination against its ethnic and religious minorities.
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He then slammed the OIC for interfering in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir saying it is an integral part of India.
“We once again regret and reject the reference made by the OIC to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral part of India,” Badhe said.
