India accuses Pakistan of harbouring terrorists as they spar again at the UN Human Rights Council

India is dealing with a “terrorist state” which channels billions of dollars to support terrorist groups. It still awaits “credible action by the Pakistani government to bring the perpetrators of 2008 Mumbai attacks and the 2016 Pathankot attacks to justice," India told the UN Human Rights Council in a hard-hitting statement on Monday. “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,” India said using its Right of Reply (RoR), during a general debate on the implementation of Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, responding to a statement made by Pakistan. “The recovery of GPS, grenades with Pakistani markings, communication matrix sheets and equipment and other stores made in Pakistan, and patterns of infiltration and attacks, is clear evidence of involvement of terror organizations based in Pakistan or territory under its control,” India stated. It (India) “deeply regrets” its neighbour’s continued misuse of the Council to make “tendentious references” about internal matters pertaining to its state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Pakistan has a “selective approach” in dealing with terrorists inside Pakistan as well as outside its boundaries and its continued support to terrorists in J&K is the main challenge to protecting the human rights of the citizens in the state, India said. “In Pakistan, our region is dealing with a terrorist state, which has for years with complete impunity channelized billions of dollars from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours,” the statement said. [caption id=“attachment_3021638” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] Internationally proscribed terrorist entities and their leaders continue to roam the streets of Pakistan freely and operate with State support; even raising funds openly in flagrant violation of Pakistan’s international obligations. “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,” India told the Council. The “irresponsible and short-sighted” Pakistani policy of using terrorism as a state policy has not only affected India but has had deleterious impact on the stability of South Asia as a whole and beyond. “We call upon the Council 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. Countering terrorism emanating from Pakistan, that has turned out to be the most acute violator of human rights, is the only way to address the risk to peace and stability of the region,” India said in the RoR statement. Pakistan, earlier during the debate, had stated that it is “regrettable” that decades since the adoption of the UN Charter and the two covenants (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights), the people of “Indian-occupied J&K” are still being denied the right to self-determination. “The repression and brutality they [Kashmiris] face is constant,” Pakistan said. The Council is being asked to believe the “absurd narrative” of India that the situation in J&K is about terrorism, Pakistan said, adding that the Kashmiri people were being “bludgeoned and brutalized” by an occupying power so that they give up their “just” right to self-determination. “Genuine human rights defenders like Khurram Parvez are stopped by India from speaking at the Council. This is a clear case of reprisals. Mr. President, you need to take action,” Pakistan said.