Pakistan's support for terrorists threatens Kashmiri's human rights: India

United Nations Pakistans continued support for terrorists in Kashmir is the main challenge to the human rights of the people of the state India said Tuesday during three rounds of dueling statements by the two countries that spilled over from MondayIndian diplomat Mayank Joshi dismissed Pakistans assertion that Kashmir was a disputed territory and said The misuse of this forum by making tendentious references to the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir constitutes a clear interference in the internal affairs of IndiaThe current round of face off between the two neighbors began Monday when Pakistans Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi raised the Kashmir issue in a General Assembly Committee that deals with social and humanitarian affairsShe said that a plebiscite under UN auspices should be held in Kashmir adding Generation after generation of Kashmiris have seen only broken pledges and ruthless oppressionRattan Lal Kataria made a rebuttal Tuesday saying The people of Jammu and Kashmir exercised their right to selfdetermination at the time of Indias Independence and have since then regularly participated in free fair and open elections at all levelsThese elections have been held under the scrutiny of international media and opinion which has not faulted the electoral process he added The 65 percent record voter turnout in the 2014 election in Jammu and Kashmir despite the threats from Pakistanbased terror groups is a resounding response by our peoplePakistan should first stop human rights violations in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir and ensure the right of selfdetermination for the victims before sermonizing others on it said Kataria a Bhartiya Janata Party member of the Lok Sabha from Ambala in Haryana who is in Indias UN delegationIt is all the more ironical that these comments come from a country which is persisting with its illegal occupation of part of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir and consistently denying human rights of the occupied territory he addedA Pakistani delegate exercising the right of reply said that Kashmir was internationally recognised as a disputed territory and questioned if the elections there were recognised by the UN He also denied the accusations of terrorismJoshi a First Secretary in Indias UN mission responded Pakistans 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 In spite of this India remains committed to resolving all outstanding issues with Pakistan in an atmosphere free from terror and violenceJoshi accused Islamabad of trying to distract the committee from the cause of selfdetermination for Palestine which was the centerpiece if the discussionExtending an olive branch he reiterated External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajs offer of a dialogue in atmosphere free of terror Give up terrorism and let us sit down and talk she had said he recalledPakistan launched another round in reply essentially repeating the previous statement but its delegate did not respond to the offer of talks without terrorTaking the floor in reply for the third round Joshi explained how India fulfilled the requirements for ensuring selfdeterminationRelevant international principles reaffirm that selfdetermination is a right applicable to the peoples of nonselfgoverning colonies and trust territories he said Once exercised this right enables people to freely choose their own form of government and for all segments of society to collectively participateHe added There is no room for selfdetermination to be distorted and misinterpreted as a right of a group on the basis of ethnicity religion or racial criteria or any other such categorization and use it to attempt to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of statePakistan would do well to introspect before casting baseless allegations against India lest it will be drawn into its own created vortex said