India highlights shared value of democracy to press for more US visas

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 26

India on Wednesday told the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that the measures being taken in Jammu & Kashmir are showing positive results.

“Despite Pakistan’s best efforts to destabilise J&K through externally-instigated terror and a campaign of canards and untruth, the situation on the ground is quite normal. Most temporary restrictions—imposed solely to ensure safety of the people from Pakistani trained terrorist attacks—have already been removed, political processes have resumed, telecom facilities have been largely restored, developmental activities are being undertaken at a rapid pace and there is access for all to education and healthcare,” said Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup while speaking at the high-level segment of the UN Human Rights Council.

“These have been achieved despite Pakistan’s frenetic attempts to promote both violence within our territory—with an 81 per cent increase in infiltration attempts since last August—and disinformation outside. Yesterday’s speech [by the Pakistani delegate] was a good example of the latter,’’ he observed.

Swarup said schools, colleges and universities have also resumed and regular examinations are being held. Hospitals, clinics and pharmacies are well-stocked and staffing is at full capacity.

“It is more than a little ironical that a nation that has become the world’s leading exporter of terror and violence seeks to lecture others about human rights,’’ said Swarup while reiterating that J&K “is and shall forever remain an integral part of India’’.

The transformative changes wrought by Parliament last August were meant to strengthen the integration of J&K, he explained.

“Let me reiterate that India is making every effort for full and effective enjoyment of all human rights by all its people. This is what our citizens and our democracy expect from us,’’ he said.