India urges UNHRC to tell Pak to introspect on terrorist attacks on its neighbours

Geneva [Switzerland], Sept. 26 (ANI): India on Monday urged the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to urge Pakistan to engage in honest introspection and focus its energies on acting against perpetrators of terrorist attacks on its neighbours from its own territory. Exercising its Right of Reply under Agenda Item 8 at the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council, India pointed out that Islamabad's "short-sighted" approach of "terrorism as state policy" has started showing in other countries of South Asia as well. "We would like to reiterate that India is not the only victim of Pakistan's preaching, practicing, encouraging and nurturing terrorism. The deleterious impact of Pakistan's irresponsible and short-sighted approach of terrorism as state policy has started showing in other countries of South Asia and beyond," the statement by the Permanent Mission of India said. Maintaining that India deeply regrets Pakistan's continued misuse of the Council to make tendentious references about internal matters pertaining to the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, the statement pointed out that Islamabad's misinformation campaign, backed by fabricated facts and figures, on this issue only reflects the desperation that has seeped into their narrative. "Pakistan's continued support for terror groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir is the main challenge to protecting the human rights of our citizens in the State. Pakistan's selective approach in tackling terror groups operating outside Pakistan and within, despite the numerous solemn promises made underscores the continuing unwillingness to acknowledge the truth," the statement added. Reminding the Government of Pakistan about their solemn commitment in January 2004, to not allow its soil or territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India, the statement added that New Delhi awaits credible action by Islamabad to bring all those involved in the 2008 Mumbai attack and the 2016 Pathankot attack to justice. "We await credible action by the Government of Pakistan to bring all those involved in the 2008 Mumbai attack and the 2016 Pathankot attack to justice. The latest terrorist attack in Uri, where 18 Indian soldiers lost their life and over 20 injured, only underlines that the infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan remains active," the statement added. Pointing out that recovery of GPS, grenades with Pakistani markings, communication matrix sheets and equipments and other stores made in Pakistan, and patterns of infiltration and attacks, is clear evidence of involvement of terror organisations based in Pakistan or territory under its control, India demanded Islamabad to live up to its public commitment to refrain from supporting and sponsoring terrorism against New Delhi. Taking a jibe at Pakistan, India said that it is unfortunate that Islamabad's trust in the methods of terror are so deep that it does not hesitate from using them on its own people in Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as the tribal areas in its northwest. "This coupled with the utter disregard for the human rights of religious and sectarian minorities has turned Pakistan into the true epicenter of global terror," the statement said. (ANI)