India slams Pakistan at UN over minority rights: 'No standing to lecture India'

India delivered a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan at the United Nations on Thursday (October 22, New York time), with First Secretary Bhavika Mangalanandan declaring that Islamabad has “no standing” to lecture New Delhi on religious freedom, News18 reported (https://www.news18.com/india/rights-of-terrorists-are-vigorously-defended-india-hits-out-at-pakistan-over-terrorism-religious-freedom-ws-lrt-10393646.html).

“In Pakistan, the number of minorities is shrinking, and their rights are regularly abused. A state that cannot ensure the safety of its own minorities has no standing to lecture India,” Mangalanandan said during an interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief on funeral rights in exceptional circumstances, according to the Times of India (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/no-standing-to-lecture-india-new-delhi-hits-out-at-pakistan-over-minority-rights-at-un/articleshow/135132147.cms).

Questioning the report’s emphasis on the funeral rights of terrorists, she said victims’ rights must not be overshadowed. Invoking the 1999 Kargil War, she told Pakistan: “It is deeply ironic that a state that did not even accept the bodies of its own soldiers who were killed in combat in 1999 in Kargil, unabashedly speaks with fervour on faith, religious freedom and burials,” adding: “Let me remind them, it was the Indian Army that buried a number of Pakistani soldiers with military honours and in accordance with Islamic rites,” the Tribune India reported (https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/usa-news/india-slams-pakistan-at-un-over-treatment-of-minorities-says-islamabad-has-no-standing-to-lecture-new-delhi/).

She also urged Pakistan to redirect its “deep obsession” with Jammu and Kashmir toward “the parts of Jammu and Kashmir under its illegal occupation, such as Rawalakot”.