India on Wednesday firmly rejected Pakistan's accusations at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, dismissing its claims of human rights violations and suppression of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir as unfounded and misleading. India's representative strongly criticized Pakistan, stating that it is in no position to lecture others given its own record of human rights abuses.

Exercising India's right of reply, diplomat Kshitij Tyagi condemned Pakistan's persistent misinformation campaign, accusing its leadership of parroting false narratives dictated by its military establishment. “It is unfortunate that Pakistan's so-called leaders and delegates continue to spread fabricated claims handed down by its military-terrorist nexus,” he stated.

Earlier in the session, Pakistan's Minister for Law, Justice, and Human Rights, Azam Nazeer Tarar, alleged that Kashmiris were being denied their right to self-determination, claiming that India's actions violated UN resolutions and international law. He also accused India of human rights violations in the region.

India refuted these allegations, pointing to significant progress and development in Jammu and Kashmir while reaffirming its sovereignty over the region. “The union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are and will remain an integral part of India. The remarkable political, social, and economic advancements in the region over the past few years speak volumes about the trust placed by its people in the government's commitment to restoring normalcy,” Tyagi said.

Highlighting Pakistan’s internal crises, the Indian envoy urged Islamabad to focus on addressing its own governance failures rather than making baseless accusations. “Pakistan is a country where human rights abuses, minority persecution, and the erosion of democratic values are state policies. It also provides shelter to UN-designated terrorists. Such a country has no moral standing to preach to others,” he remarked.

He further criticized Pakistan’s rhetoric as hypocritical and its governance as incompetent. “India remains committed to democracy, progress, and ensuring dignity for its citizens — values that Pakistan would do well to learn from,” Tyagi asserted.

In his address to the council earlier this week, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated India’s dedication to upholding and promoting human rights globally while taking a firm stance against terrorism.