India has accused Pakistan of extolling the virtues of terrorists and “coveting” the territory of others. It also noted that Pakistan could not gain membership of the U.N.’s human rights body because of its “track record”.
The hard-hitting rebuttal by India’s Ambassador to the U.N. Syed Akbaruddin followed provocative remarks made by Pakistan’s envoy Maleeha Lodhi on Kashmir and killing of Hizb-ul commander Burhan Wani, during a debate on human rights in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday.
In her statement, Ms. Lodhi, besides raising the Kashmir issue, also mentioned the “extra-judicial” killing of Wani, whom she described as a “Kashmiri leader”, by Indian forces.
Ms. Lodhi, who has regularly raised the issue of Kashmir at various U.N. fora, termed Wani’s killing as the “most chilling recent example” of “human rights violations” by Indian forces in Kashmir.
Alleging that the denial of self-determination to Kashmiri people had led to arbitrary detentions, summary executions and other “atrocious” violations, she said, “Its most chilling recent example is the extra-judicial killing last week of a Kashmiri leader, Burhan Wani, shot to death by Indian forces along with dozens of other innocent Kashmiris.”
Mr. Akbaruddin said it is regrettable that Pakistan attempted to “misuse” the U.N. platform.
“Regrettably, earlier today we have seen an attempt at misuse of this U.N. platform. The attempt came from Pakistan; a country that covets the territory of others; a country that uses terrorism as state policy towards that misguided end; a country that extols the virtues of terrorists and that provides sanctuary to U.N.-designated terrorists; and a country that masquerades its efforts as support for human rights and self determination,” he said.
“The international community has long seen through such designs. Cynical attempts, like the one this morning therefore, find no resonance in this forum or elsewhere in the United Nations,” he noted.
“We remain strongly committed to the promotion and protection of all human rights for all through pursuit of dialogue and cooperation,” he added.
Over 30 people have been killed and more than 250 injured in clashes between protesters and security personnel after Wani’s killing last week.
The U.N. has expressed concern over the tensed situation in Kashmir, with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calling on all parties to exercise “maximum restraint to avoid further violence and hopes that all concerns would be addressed through peaceful means.”
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