India raises 'Pakistan’s human rights violations in Balochistan' at UN

Indian representative says Pakistan should focus its energies on improving human rights situation within the country

A file photo of an FC personnel in Balochistan. PHOTO: REUTERS

India  launched a scathing attack on Pakistan as it raised the issue of alleged human rights violations in Balochistan at United Nations on Wednesday.

Addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), India raised the issue of alleged human rights violations by the country's military establishment across the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

Pakistan rejects Indian claims of restraint in Indian Kashmir

"It will be in the fitness of things if Pakistan focuses its energies on improving the human rights situation within Pakistan and AJK," said Ajit Kumar India's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, said in a statement at the 33rd Session of the UNHRC at Geneva.

"Pakistan is characterised by authoritarianism, absence of democratic norms and widespread human rights violations across the country, including Balochistan," he added.

The statement comes weeks after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his decision to raise the Balochistan issue on international forums.


Pakistan to account for violations in Balochistan: Modi

The statement came soon after Pakistan rejected Indian claims of restraint in Indian Kashmir as “simply preposterous”.

The Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, Ambassador Tehmina Janjua, welcomed remarks by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding use of excessive force by Indian authorities in Indian Kashmir.

“Pakistan supported the position of the High Commissioner that an OHCHR team should visit IoK to independently and impartially investigate the grave violations being perpetrated by Indian occupation forces over the past two months,” Janjua said.

Pakistan and India are engaged in a heated war of wars following one of the deadliest clashes in Kashmir.

This article originally appeared on The Times of India.

 
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