India Hits Out at Pakistan at UN Over Minority Rights

India has strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations, accusing it of using propaganda against New Delhi to divert global attention from its own economic difficulties, law-and-order problems and alleged human rights violations.

Speaking during an interactive session with the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues at the General Assembly’s Third Committee, India’s First Secretary, Raghoo Puri, raised concerns over the treatment of minorities in Pakistan and alleged that the country’s military continued to wield substantial influence over its political leadership.

Referring to the disputed outcome of Pakistan’s 2024 general elections, Puri termed the administration a “Form 47 government” and claimed that the military remained the country’s actual power centre. Form 47 is an official document used to compile provisional consolidated election results in Pakistan.

India also expressed concern over the declining proportion of minority communities in Pakistan, urging Islamabad to prioritise the rights and welfare of its own citizens instead of targeting India on international platforms.

Rejecting Pakistan’s claims over Jammu and Kashmir, Puri reiterated that the region is an integral part of India. He maintained that the unresolved matter concerns the vacation of territories under Pakistan’s illegal occupation.

Defending India’s approach to minority rights, Puri described the country as a diverse society comprising multiple religions, ethnic groups and languages. He highlighted constitutional protections and the contributions of minority communities to public administration, the armed forces, business and cultural life.

He concluded by emphasising that safeguarding minority rights is primarily the responsibility of individual sovereign nations.