Pak’s J&K pitch a ploy to push terrorism: India

India, Pakistan square off in Geneva on Kashmir issue

NEWDELHI: India on Tuesday countered Pakistan’s efforts to internationalise the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) by saying the Pakistani leadership is using the issue to promote cross-border terrorism.

After Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi demanded an international investigation into the situation in Kashmir, India outlined its position through a statement by secretary (east) Vijay Thakur Singh and a “right of reply” by junior diplomat Vimarsh Aryan.

Qureshi also asked UNHRC to urge India to roll back a clampdown and communications blackout, restore fundamental liberties, and release political prisoners.

Aryan, the first secretary at India’s permanent mission to the UN, said: “We are not surprised at Pakistan’s hysterical statements with false, fabricated narratives aimed to politicise and polarise this forum. Pakistan realises that our recent decision [on Kashmir] cuts the very ground from under its feet by creating obstacles in its continuing sponsorship of crossborder terrorism against India.

“In this desperate mind-frame, some Pakistan leaders have even gone as far as to call for ‘jihad’ and to encourage violence both inside Jammu & Kashmir and in third countries, in order to paint a picture of ‘genocide’ which even they know is far from reality,” he added, in an apparent reference to the Pakistani leadership’s remarks that developments in Kashmir could affect the troubled peace process in Afghanistan.

Earlier, in her statement, Singh said the changes in Kashmir are the outcome of a “sovereign decision” that was “entirely internal to India”. She added: “No country can accept interference in its internal affairs, certainly not India.” India’s “legislative measures” within the framework of its Constitution will ensure people in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh benefit from the government’s welfare programmes and schemes aimed at empowering women, children and other underprivileged sections of society, she said.

“Despite challenging circumstances, Jammu & Kashmir’s civil administration is ensuring basic services, essential supplies, normal functioning of institutions, mobility and nearly full connectivity. Democratic processes have been initiated,” Singh said. “Restrictions are being eased continuously. Temporary preventive and precautionary measures were necessitated to ensure safety and security of our citizens in the face of credible threats of cross-border terrorism,” she added.

Without naming Pakistan, Singh said India had suffered from the activities of “practitioners of state sponsored terrorism” and the time has come for firm action against terror groups and their abettors.