India on Thursday accused Pakistan of making “baseless” and “politically motivated” statements about Jammu and Kashmir during a UN Security Council debate on “Children and Armed Conflict”. India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, R. Ravindra, said it was “yet another routine attempt” by Pakistan to divert attention from “grave human rights violations” continuing against children in the country.
Ravindra’s comments came after Pakistan’s representative to the United Nations expressed concern over what it said were “unjustified” omissions from a report on the situation of children in Jammu and Kashmir.
“In the interest of time, let me briefly refute the clearly politically motivated and unfounded remarks made by a representative against my country which I categorically reject and condemn with due contempt. This is nothing less than yet another routine attempt to divert attention from the grave human rights violations against children that continue to continue in my country, as highlighted in this year’s Secretary-General’s report on children and armed conflict,” Ravindra said.
He further said that with regard to Jammu and Kashmir, “irrespective of what this particular representative or his country (Pakistan) believes or wants, it will always be an integral and indivisible part of India.”
Pakistan has consistently raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at various UN platforms irrespective of the subject matter being addressed, whereas India has always rejected attempts by its neighbour to raise the issue.
“Violence against children in armed conflict is a matter of grave concern”: India
Meanwhile, during discussions at the UN Security Council, the Indian envoy noted the seriousness of grave human rights violations against children in armed conflicts, calling it a “matter of deep concern,” and stressed the need for greater focus and decisive action against abuse, exploitation, sexual violence and other serious human rights violations against children committed by terrorists.
“This year marks the 25th anniversary of Security Council resolution 1261 on children and armed conflict. The report paints a grim picture of the growing threats faced by children in conflict zones, with terrorist and armed groups continuing to commit the majority of violations,” he said.
Ravindra further said children “are particularly vulnerable to indoctrination by violent extremist ideologies designed to incite terror,” and stressed that this challenge can only be overcome through decisive action by governments in the territories where such groups operate.
(With inputs from ANI)
