India slams Pak habit of misuising UN Human Rights Council

India on Thursday highlighted human rights violations by Pakistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

India’s response came after Pakistan raised the issue of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir.

Second Secretary of India’s Permanent Mission at UNHRC Mini Devi Kumam said it had become a habit of Pakistan to misuse the UNHRC platform to make misleading references about internal matters pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir.

India also urged the UNHRC to call on Pakistan to end cross-border infiltration, to dismantle special terrorist zones, safe havens and sanctuaries, and to take verifiable actions, including on terror financing.

The Indian representative also told the UNHRC that Pakistan should provide freedom to the people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir by ending its illegal and forcible occupation.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan has welcomed the rising international pressure on the counter-terrorism front against Pakistan including its recent listing on a terrorism financing watch list and the United States withholding aid.

Afghanistan’s Permanent Representative Mahmoud Saikal told the Security Council said inclusion of Pakistan in the watch list of the Financial Action Task Force represent a renewed attempt to encourage genuine action on the crucially important goal of defeating terrorism effectively.

Last month Washington persuaded the members of FATF to reinstate Pakistan on its “grey list” of nations that are monitored for not acting adequately to stop terrorist financing and money laundering.

In January, Trump ordered withholding military aid and payments estimated at $1.2 billion to Islamabad because of its support for terrorist organisations.