India on Wednesday slammed Pakistan at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) over the persecution of minorities, calling it deeply ironic that Islamabad seeks to lecture other countries on human rights instead of addressing issues on its own soil.
Speaking at the 34th Meeting of the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Indian diplomat Mohammed Hussain said, “India finds it deeply ironic that a country like Pakistan seeks to lecture others on human rights. Instead of spreading propaganda, Pakistan should confront the persecution of minorities on its own soil.”
‘India finds it deeply ironic that a country like Pakistan seeks to lecture others on human rights. Instead of spreading propaganda, Pakistan should confront the persecution of minorities on their own soil,’ says India at the UN Human Rights Council pic.twitter.com/rcgvu0fe9L — Shashank Mattoo (@MattooShashank) October 1, 2025
Experts Highlight Human Rights Violations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
At the same event, Josh Bowes, an international geopolitical researcher, drew attention to human rights violations in Pakistan, particularly highlighting the ongoing crisis in Balochistan. He pointed out that the USCIRF Religious Freedom Report for 2025 notes that over 700 individuals are imprisoned on blasphemy charges, marking a 300 percent increase from the previous year.
“The USCIRF Religious freedom report for 2025 states that over 700 individuals were in prison for blasphemy charges, with 300 per cent increase from the last year,” he said.
Bowes also underscored the hardships faced by the Baloch people, citing the Baloch National Movement’s human rights body, Paank, which documented 785 enforced disappearances and 121 killings in the first half of 2025 alone. Additionally, he referred to the Pashtun National Jirga, which reported that 4,000 Pashtuns were still missing as of 2025.
“The Baloch National Movement’s Human Rights Body, Paank, documented 785 enforced disappearances and 121 killings in the first half of 2025 alone. The Pashtun national jirga said that in 2025, 4000 Pashtuns are still missing,” he said.
Bowes urged the UNHRC to strengthen its monitoring of the human rights situation in Pakistan.
He said, “The UNHRC is requested to explore cooperative mechanisms with the EU under item 8 to strengthen its monitoring of the human rights situation in Pakistan”.
Additionally, human rights activist Arif Aajakia also raised concerns about the state of human rights in the country. He pointed out that the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been subjected to prolonged military operations, citing reports of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and torture. He also noted that families of missing individuals frequently hold protests to demand justice.
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