India raises issue of Pakistani violation of human rights in Balochistan

India today raised the issue of Pakistani atrocities in Balochistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), saying Pakistan has been systematically violating the human rights of its own citizens.

"This is a country, which has systematically abused and violated the human rights of its own citizens, including in Balochistan, as well as the people of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir," Rajiv K Chander, India's permanent representative at the United Nations, said.

Pakistan, while advocating restraint to others, uses all powers at the disposal of the state, including air power, to subjugate its own people, he told the 35th Session of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations in Geneva.

"Pakistan has once again sought to mask its territorial ambitions and use of terrorism as a state policy under the garb of concern for human rights," Chander said.

On the other hand, he said, Pakistan continues to provide sanctuary to UN-designated terrorists to unleash terror on neighbouring countries, including India and Afghanistan, he pointed out.

India also raised the issue of Pakistan instigating violence in the Kashmir Valley. "I would once again draw the attention to the fact that the present situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir was aggravated by sustained cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan," Chander said.

While contending that the central problem in Jammu and Kashmir is cross-border terrorism, and Pakistan's use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy, Chander emphasised that the entire Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India while Pakistan remains in illegal occupation of a part of India. "Hence the neutrality of the phrase 'Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir' is artificial."