India accuses Pakistan of propaganda at UN

United Nations diplomats from India vehemently refuted Pakistan's attempts to portray New Delhi in a propagandist light, accusing Islamabad's Form 47 government of being beholden to the country's true rulers: the Pakistani military. Form 47 serves as an official election document in Pakistan, documenting the provisional results of constituency votes.

The clash unfolded during an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues at the UN General Assembly's Third Committee on Saturday. India's First Secretary at the Permanent Mission to the UN, Raghoo Puri, accused Pakistan of attempting to craft a misleading image of India. He argued that Islamabad's actions were meant to divert attention from its own economic turmoil, lawlessness, and human rights abuses, ranging from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Balochistan.

Puri highlighted the shrinking numbers of Pakistan's minorities since its independence, underscoring that Pakistan frequently raises the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at international forums to challenge India's stance on the region. Rejecting Islamabad's claims, Puri firmly stated that Jammu and Kashmir remains an integral and inalienable part of India, emphasizing that the sole outstanding issue is the withdrawal of areas under Pakistan's illegal occupation.

Turning to the Special Rapporteur's report on minority issues, Puri concurred that protecting and promoting minority rights primarily falls under a country's sovereign responsibility. He reiterated that India, as the world's most diverse society, respects this principle and is committed to addressing these complex challenges in multilateral forums.

Puri stressed India's pride in its multicultural heritage and the significant contributions minorities have made to various sectors, including government, armed forces, and entertainment. He also criticized Pakistan's record on minority rights, noting the lack of comparable examples from its neighboring nation.