GENEVA-India firmly rejected what it called “baseless and malicious allegations” by Pakistan and dismissed references to Jammu and Kashmir made by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), reiterating at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that the region remains an “integral and inalienable” part of the country.

Speaking during the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Anupama Singh, First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, said, “India is compelled to exercise its right of reply in response to the references made to it by Pakistan and the OIC. We categorically reject the baseless and malicious allegations made by Pakistan. We also categorically reject the references to J&K made by the OIC. Pakistan’s propaganda is designed to mask its domestic failures and support for terrorism. Its misuse of the OIC coordinator’s role only reinforces deception. We have no desire to dignify such propaganda.”

Singh reaffirmed India’s position on Jammu and Kashmir, stating, “For the record, Jammu and Kashmir was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. The only unresolved issue is Pakistan’s illegal occupation of Indian territories and their return. Pakistan’s propaganda cannot obscure the reality of repression in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.”

She said the unrest in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir was the result of decades of repression, military control and denial of fundamental rights.

“The ongoing tragedy in Rawalakot, the killing of hundreds of civilians, and the brutal crackdown across Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir are the predictable outcome of a system built on forcible occupation and sustained through repression. Decades of military land grabs, demographic engineering, and the denial of basic freedoms have brought matters to a point where even demands for bread, electricity, rights, and dignity are met with bullets and brutality. An illegal and illegitimate occupation can be sustained only through force,” Singh said. (IANS)