‘Pakistan Living in La-La Land’: India Hits Back at UNHRC Over Kashmir Remarks

India presents evidence at the UN Human Rights Council to affirm Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India, countering Pakistan and the OIC with data on legality, development and democratic progress, while highlighting visible infrastructure and budget indicators.

Indian representative Anupama Singh used the High-Level Segment of the 55th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council to sharply criticise Pakistan and the OIC, dismissing their "envious" claims on Jammu and Kashmir and stressing that their attempts to question India’s position lacked credibility and factual basis.

Addressing member states in Geneva, first secretary Anupama Singh said Islamabad’s "propaganda reeks o envy" and added that India had no "desire to dignify it, but "will make a few points to dismantle it with facts." Singh argued that the comments from Pakistan and the OIC ignored realities on the ground.

Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and UN Human Rights Council statements

Reasserting India’s stand, Singh told the UN Human Rights Council that, "Jammu and Kashmir was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. No amount of wishful rhetoric or audacious propaganda by Pakistan can alter the immutable fact that the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India was completely legal and irrevocable, in accordance with the Indian Independence Act of 1947 and international law," leaving little room for ambiguity.

Singh noted that the only pending matter related to the region involves territories "under its forcible occupation." India, Singh said, expects Pakistan to end this "illegal occupation of Indian territories" rather than raise allegations at multilateral forums. The envoy underlined that these issues stem from historical circumstances already defined under existing law.

Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and UN Human Rights Council development claims

Pointing to electoral participation, Singh said, "The record voter turnout in general and assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir testifies that its people have rejected the ideology of terrorism and violence propagated by Pakistan and are moving forward on the path of development and democracy," presenting elections as a direct answer to accusations raised in Geneva.

Singh also used examples of infrastructure and budgeting to counter Pakistan’s narrative. Singh argued that, "If the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world's highest railway bridge inaugurated in Jammu and Kashmir last year, is considered fake, then Pakistan must be living in 'La-La' land." Singh added that Pakistan must be living in "La-La Land" if it ignored such visible changes.

Singh further said Pakistan appeared uncomfortable that the development budget of Jammu and Kashmir is more than double the bailout package Pakistan recently sought from the IMF. By contrasting public spending and financial dependence, Singh suggested that material indicators contradict the "envious" claims made against India at the UN Human Rights Council.

Responding to remarks on democratic practice, Singh said it was "hard to take lectures on democracy from a country where civilian governments rarely complete their terms," according to ANI. The envoy argued that Pakistan’s internal political instability weakened its moral standing while criticising India’s democratic record at the UN Human Rights Council.

Later, Singh reiterated that Pakistan’s narrative on Jammu and Kashmir ignored visible progress and relied on rhetoric rather than data. The envoy’s remarks came as the 61st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, scheduled from February 23 to 31, continued with statements from member states and observer groups on a range of human rights issues worldwide.