Pakistan must vacate illegal occupation of Kashmir: India at United Nations

Geneva: Asserting that Pakistan is a state that regards the use of terrorism as a legitimate instrument of statecraft and provides sanctuary to UN-designated terrorists, India in its reply to Islamabad`s statement at the United Nation Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Wednesday urged the Council to ask its Asian neighbour to fulfil its obligation under UN Security Council resolutions to vacate illegal occupation of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

New Delhi in a clear reply said that it deeply regrets that Pakistan continued misuse of the Council to make tendentious references about internal matters pertaining to the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Pakistan has had territorial ambitions over Kashmir since 1947 that have found concrete expression in the aggression it embarked on in 1947, 1965 and 1999. As on date, Pakistan is in illegal and forcible occupation of approximately 78,000 sq kms of Indian Territory in Jammu and Kashmir. We also call upon the Council to urge Pakistan to fulfill its obligation under UN Security Council resolutions to vacate illegal occupation of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir," India`s said in its response.

"In Pakistan, we are dealing with a state that regards the use of terrorism as a legitimate instrument of statecraft and provides sanctuary to UN-designated terrorists. The consequences of Pakistan`s actions have spread beyond its immediate neighbors and the international community has finally begun to realize the dangers of Pakistan`s dalliance with terror," the response added.

India further targeted Pakistan and urged it stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of India and refrain from meddling in our internal affairs in any manner.

"Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so. We have a robust institutional framework to ensure adherence to rule of law and respect for fundamental rights of the people in Jammu and Kashmir," the statement said.

"Pakistan will be well-advised to focus its energies on setting its own house in order and acting against the perpetrators of terrorist attacks on its neighbours instead of ritually raking up alleged human rights violations elsewhere. We, once again, ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of India and refrain from meddling in our internal affairs in any manner," it added.

Further targeting the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) New Delhi in its response said, "We note with regret that the delegate from the OIC has used this august Council to comment upon India's internal affairs. We condemn and reject this. Inherent in OIC`s statements on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is a complete inability to understand India's position. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the OIC has no locus standi in matters concerning India`s internal affairs."