India Slams Pakistan at UN Over Minority Rights, Says Islamabad Has No Standing to Lecture New Delhi

India has strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations over its record on protecting religious minorities, asserting that Islamabad lacks the credibility to lecture New Delhi on human rights and religious freedom. The exchange took place during a UN discussion on freedom of religion and belief, highlighting the continuing diplomatic tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

India’s First Secretary at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Bhavika Mangalanandan, challenged Pakistan’s position during an interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief. She questioned Islamabad’s record on safeguarding minority communities and argued that a country struggling to protect vulnerable groups within its own borders had little justification for criticising India’s policies.

The Indian representative also raised concerns about the treatment of religious minorities in Pakistan, arguing that the country’s claims on religious freedom should be examined against its domestic record. Her remarks reflected New Delhi’s broader position that allegations concerning minority rights must be assessed consistently, without overlooking violations in the countries making such accusations.

The discussion also touched on a report concerning funeral rights in exceptional circumstances. Mangalanandan reportedly criticised aspects of the document, arguing that its treatment of discriminatory practices during the COVID-19 pandemic appeared to concentrate on incidents in the Global South while giving insufficient attention to comparable experiences in developed countries. Her intervention questioned whether the assessment applied a consistent standard across different regions.

India further invoked the 1999 Kargil War to challenge Pakistan’s claims on humanitarian conduct. Mangalanandan referred to allegations that Pakistan had declined to accept the bodies of some of its soldiers killed during the conflict. She said Indian Army personnel had buried several Pakistani soldiers with full military honours and in accordance with Islamic religious rites.

The Indian diplomat also raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, urging Pakistan to address developments in territories under its control rather than directing criticism at India. The remarks reflected the longstanding disagreement between the two countries over the region, which remains a major source of diplomatic and political friction.

Both countries have repeatedly exchanged accusations over these issues, alongside disputes involving terrorism and Jammu and Kashmir. India’s latest intervention reinforced New Delhi’s position that Pakistan should address concerns about minority protection within its own borders before questioning India’s policies internationally.