Geneva (Rajeev Sharma): India delivered a scathing rebuke to Pakistan during a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), calling out Islamabad for targeting its own civilian population in recent airstrikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Addressing the Council during discussions on global human rights concerns, Indian diplomat Kshitij Tyagi used the platform to sharply criticize Pakistan’s domestic actions and foreign policy priorities.
In a pointed statement, Tyagi said Pakistan should focus on its internal crises — including economic instability, military interference in politics, and systemic human rights violations — rather than fixating on India’s territorial sovereignty.
He accused Islamabad of “bombing its own people” while continuing to offer refuge to internationally sanctioned terrorists. “Perhaps once Pakistan takes a break from exporting terrorism and harboring globally proscribed militants, it could start addressing the crises within its borders,” he remarked.
Tyagi also renewed India’s call for Pakistan to vacate territory in Jammu & Kashmir that remains under its “illegal occupation,” reiterating India’s position on the long-standing territorial dispute.
The Indian envoy’s remarks followed reports that Pakistan’s military had conducted air operations in the tribal regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, an area known for unrest but also home to vulnerable civilian communities. Independent human rights groups have expressed alarm over potential civilian casualties and the broader humanitarian impact of such strikes.
The incident has sparked criticism of Pakistan’s internal governance, with observers noting that the use of air power against domestic populations raises serious legal and ethical concerns.
India’s statement at the UN is part of a wider diplomatic effort to highlight what it sees as Pakistan’s double standards — criticizing others over human rights while committing abuses at home.
Pakistan has not yet officially responded to the comments made by the Indian representative.
As global forums like the UNHRC continue to assess the state of human rights worldwide, such exchanges underscore the deep-rooted animosity and conflicting narratives between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
