‘Driven From Their Homes’: India Raises Kashmiri Pandit Exodus At UN, Rips Into Pakistan

News india ‘Driven From Their Homes’: India Raises Kashmiri Pandit Exodus At UN, Rips Into Pakistan

Last Updated:September 25, 2026, 09:55 IST

Tyagi also referred to the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 and alleged that Pakistan-backed terrorists were responsible.

India on Thursday strongly objected to Pakistan’s remarks on Kashmir and minorities in India at the UN Human Rights Council, accusing Islamabad of illegally occupying parts of Jammu and Kashmir and calling on it to vacate the territory.

Indian diplomat Kshitij Tyagi exercised India’s right of reply at the council and urged Pakistan to focus on its debt-ridden economy and reliance on bailouts instead of pursuing territorial ambitions and sponsoring cross-border terrorism.

“Since Pakistan appears to need the reminder under every agenda item, Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. The only part of Jammu and Kashmir under foreign occupation is the part Pakistan holds, which we again call upon it to vacate," Tyagi said.

Responding to Pakistan’s comments on minorities, Tyagi highlighted India’s Muslim population and representation in public institutions while alleging that minority communities in Pakistan have faced severe persecution.

“India is home to one of the largest Muslim populations in the world, and our minorities vote, legislate, sit on the highest court and lead our institutions. In Pakistan, Hindu, Sikh and Christian communities have shrunk drastically since independence. Their daughters are abducted, forcibly converted and married off.

Blasphemy laws hang over every minority household. Its own Muslim minorities, Shias, Ahmadiyyas, Ismailis and Hazaras face systemic persecution and their places of worship are attacked and desecrated," he added.

India Recalls Kashmiri Pandit Exodus

Tyagi also referred to the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 and alleged that Pakistan-backed terrorists were responsible.

Exposing this blatant double standard, Kshitij Tyagi said, “The Council does not need Pakistan to explain what happened in 1990 to the Kashmiri Pandits driven from their homes by terrorists Pakistan armed, trained and sent across the border."

“Those same terrorists have since killed Kashmiris of every faith, many of them Muslim. The State that sponsored them is now asking this Council for an inquiry. The irony will not be lost on this Council," he added.

Meanwhile, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal rejected a letter circulated by Pakistan at the UN Security Council concerning a Court of Arbitration pronouncement on the Indus Waters Treaty.

Jaiswal accused Islamabad of misrepresenting international legal mechanisms and reiterated India’s position on the matter.

“Regarding the ‘permanent court’ or so-called ‘Permanent Court of Arbitration’, I would like to say that Pakistan has a habit of misrepresenting facts and propagating falsehoods to serve its malicious propaganda."

Reiterating India’s principled and unyielding legal position, Jaiswal added, “For starters, the so-called ruling is not a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration as sought to be projected by the Pakistan minister. It is a ruling by an illegally constituted court. We see this as just another attempt by Pakistan at distorting reality. Our position on this issue is very clear, and we have reiterated it several times."

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Aanchal SinhaSub Editor

Aanchal is the Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than four years of experience in national and international news. My work involves covering breaking news, politics, current affairs and developments...Read More

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