Drawing parallels, he said India's credentials are its peaceful, democratic, pluralistic society committed to the welfare of its people, while in contrast Pakistan is characterised by authoritarianism, absence of democratic norms and widespread human rights violations across the country including Balochistan.
India has hit out at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), questioning "persisting ambiguities" in the UN body's governance while asserting that the violence in Jammu and Kashmir is "choreographed" from across the border. Coinciding with the rebuff to the UN body, authorities here prevented noted Kashmiri human rights defender Khurram Parvez from proceeding to Geneva to attend the ongoing Human Rights Council session. He was detained at Indira Gandhi International airport and later disallowed to board his flight.
In Geneva, using the right to reply, the Indian diplomatic delegation said Pakistan was misusing the Council by making tendentious references on internal matters pertaining to the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. "The fundamental reason for disturbances in Kashmir is the cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan which has provided active support since 1989 to separatist groups and terrorist elements including those operating from the territory under Pakistan's control," said the Indian representative.
Drawing parallels, he said India's credentials are its peaceful, democratic, pluralistic society committed to the welfare of its people, while in contrast Pakistan is characterised by authoritarianism, absence of democratic norms and widespread human rights violations across the country including Balochistan.
"This 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 Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. While advocating restraint to others, it has no hesitation in using air power against its own people. Pakistan also continues to provide sanctuary to UN-designated terrorists. It was, therefore, no surprise that Pakistan failed to convince the international community about securing membership of the Human Rights Council last year," the Indian delegation said in a hard-hitting statement.
"We have shared evidence of terrorists who came across the border with instructions to target our security forces by mingling with protesting crowds and using human shields. Terrorism, I would emphasise, is the most egregious violation of human rights," said the Indian representative in Geneva. He also mentioned that in the ongoing violence 7,000 security force personnel sustained injuries in Kashmir. While appreciating the UN Council's efforts at improving efficiency and streamlining UNHRC's work, India said it was concerned at persistent ambiguities in UNHRC's governance and administrative arrangements. "The High Commissioner's proposed Change Initiative requires more clarity. Finally, allow me to renew our commitment to extend full cooperation to the High Commissioner and UNHRC for the meaningful and productive discharge of his mandate," the Indian representative added.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Srinagar's Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (KCCS) said Khurram Parvez, a Kashmiri human rights defender -- presently the Chairperson of Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) and Program Coordinator of Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) -- was prevented from travelling from Delhi to Geneva to attend the ongoing UN Human Rights Council session.
Despite having the necessary invitation, a valid visa and other documents, Khurram Parvez, according to JKCCS, was detained for one and a half hours, and subsequently told that due to orders he could not travel to Geneva.
He was only orally informed that immigration officers had instructions that he was not to be 'arrested', but that he should not be allowed to leave the country. Khurram Parvez along with Mary Aileen Diez Bacalso, Adv. Parvez Imroz, Adv. Kartik Murukutla and Ron de Vera were part of the AFAD & JKCCS delegation which was due to visit Geneva from 14th to 24th September to attend the 33rd UN Human Rights Council session.
The Kashmiri members of the delegation, besides attending the UNHRC session were scheduled to brief UN bodies including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
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