In the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), India made a sharp attack on Pakistan regarding Jammu and Kashmir. India’s representative Anupama Singh said that if Pakistan thinks the development happening in Jammu and Kashmir is a ‘lie’, then it is either living in an ‘imaginary world’ or in ‘la-la land’. He said that the development budget of Jammu and Kashmir is more than double the bailout package recently sought by Pakistan from the IMF.
OIC and Pakistan’s allegations rejected
India outright rejected the allegations of Pakistan and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Anupama Singh said that OIC is allowing itself to become the ‘echo chamber’ of Pakistan on this issue. He said that Pakistan’s continuous rhetoric now looks like jealousy.
‘If Chenab Rail Bridge is a lie then Pakistan is an imaginary world’
Singh said that if Pakistan thinks the world’s highest Chenab Railway Bridge, which was inaugurated in Jammu and Kashmir last year, is fake, then it is living in ‘la-la land’.
Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India
India reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir ‘was, is and will always be an integral part of India.’ Singh said that the merger of this region with India in 1947 was completely legal and final. He also said that the real issue is the Indian territories occupied by Pakistan and Islamabad should vacate them.
Answers on democracy and elections
Responding to Pakistan’s comments on democracy, Singh said that it is difficult to learn lessons on democracy from a country where civilian governments are unable to complete their tenure. Referring to the good voting percentage in the recent Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, he said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have rejected the thinking of violence and terror and have chosen the path of development.
‘Pakistan should first pay attention to its crisis’
India accused Pakistan of destabilizing the region through ‘state sponsored terrorism’. Singh said that instead of making statements on international forums, Pakistan should focus on its deepening internal crisis.
