India braces to respond to Sharif's UN address

India is bracing to turn the tables on Pakistan on the issue of human rights violations at the United Nations General Assembly.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to use his speech on Wednesday to rake up the Kashmir issue. New Delhi anticipates that Sharif will accuse India of committing atrocities and violating human rights during the recent crackdown on protesters in the Valley.

New Delhi will use External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s address to the UNGA next week to dismiss the accusations against Indian Army, paramilitary forces and police in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sushma will also turn the tables on Islamabad, accusing Pakistan’s civil and military establishments of repression and human rights violation in Balochistan and also in Gilgit-Baltistan and other parts of Kashmir under illegal occupation, sources told DH.

Pakistan has been running a global campaign against India ever since protests erupted in Kashmir after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani by security forces in July.

Sources in New Delhi said the Ministry of External Affairs had already prepared an elaborate plan to put forward India’s perspective to the global debate on human rights during the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, in addition to countering the propaganda by Pakistan.

“India will continue to emphasise that discussions on human rights at the UN should be held with a constructive approach,” according to a document prepared by the ministry.

New Delhi is also likely to argue that the Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights should refrain from undermining sovereignty of the nations through intrusive approaches.

India recently rejected the request of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for allowing him or his representatives to visit Jammu and Kashmir.  New Delhi rather argued that sustained anti-India terrorism launched from Pakistan had aggravated the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.