JOIN USIndia on Thursday denounced a UN report on Kashmir, describing the document as a “fallacious and malicious” one that did not take into account years of bleeding by cross-border terrorism.
"India rejects the report. It is fallacious, tendentious and motivated. We question the intent in bringing out such a report. It is a selective compilation of largely unverified information. It is overtly prejudiced and seeks to build a false narrative,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
Brought out by the United Nations Human Rights – Office of the High Commissioner, the 49-page report makes an attempt to describe the situation in Jammu & Kashmir on both sides of the disputed boundary since July 2016, when Hizbul Mujahidin leader Burhan Wani was killed by Indian security agencies.
The killing triggered protests on a very large and unprecedented scale throughout the Kashmir Valley and in districts of Jammu. Indian security forces responded with force, which led to casualties and a wide range of alleged related human rights violations throughout the summer of 2016 and into 2018.
Accusing the UN body of showing prejudice, MEA charged the authors of the report of ignoring cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan and territories under its illegal control.
“Cross-border terror and incitement are aimed at suppressing the will of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, disrupting its political and social fabric and undermining India’s integrity,” the foreign office said in a statement.
Since the UN officials didn't get access to Jammu & Kashmir, the report is based on indirect sources and secondary information. Views of the government of India and Pakistan were also incorporated.
While describing the right situation in India (consisting of Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Ladakh regions) and Pakistani side (Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan) of the conflict zone, the report underlines the need to address past and ongoing human rights violations and deliver justice for all people in Kashmir.
But the Centre did not agree with the report's conclusion. “Such malicious reports couldn't undermine the will of the people. India will take all measures necessary to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country from cross-border terrorism," MEA said.
India conveyed its protest to the UN body. “We are deeply concerned that individual prejudices are being allowed to undermine the credibility of a UN institution,” it noted.
"Also, the report violates India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Pakistan is illegally and forcibly occupying a part of the Indian state through aggression. The incorrect description of Indian territory is mischievous, misleading and unacceptable. There are no entities such as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan," the MEA added.