India Slams Pakistan at UNHRC: 'Living in La-La Land' Over J&K Claims

India delivered a sharp and unequivocal rebuttal to Pakistan at the 61st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, held from February 23 to March 31, 2026. The exchange occurred during the high-level segment on February 25, where India's representative, First Secretary Anupama Singh, responded to allegations made by Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) regarding Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Singh categorically rejected Pakistan's claims, asserting that Islamabad's "incessant propaganda now reeks of envy." She criticized the OIC for allowing itself to be used as an "echo chamber" for one member state's political compulsions, specifically referring to Pakistan. In a pointed remark that garnered significant attention, Singh stated that Pakistan must be "hallucinating or living in 'La-la-land'" if it found India's developmental achievements in Jammu and Kashmir unbelievable. She specifically referenced the Chenab Rail Bridge, touted as the world's highest railway bridge and inaugurated last year in Jammu and Kashmir, as a tangible reality that Pakistan seemingly dismissed. Highlighting the economic and governance disparities, the Indian diplomat emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir's development budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, amounting to Rs 1.13 lakh crore, is more than double the size of the recent bailout package Pakistan sought from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which stands at 1.2 billion USD. This comparison starkly contrasted J&K's progress with Pakistan's prevailing economic challenges. Singh reaffirmed India's unwavering position that Jammu and Kashmir "was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India." She reiterated that the region's accession to India in 1947 was both legal and irrevocable, in accordance with the Indian Independence Act and international law. The Indian representative asserted that the only outstanding dispute concerning the region is the illegal occupation of Indian territories by Pakistan, urging Islamabad to vacate these areas. Further, India countered Pakistan's lectures on democratic values by drawing attention to Islamabad's own political instability, noting the infrequent completion of terms by civilian governments in Pakistan. Singh also pointed to the record voter turnouts in recent elections within Jammu and Kashmir as evidence that the local population has embraced democratic processes and rejected the "ideology of terrorism" that India claims is propagated by Pakistan. Concluding her remarks, Singh accused Pakistan of attempting to destabilize the region through "relentless state-sponsored terrorism." She advised Pakistan to focus on resolving its deepening internal crises rather than engaging in grandstanding at international platforms, asserting that "the world can certainly see through its charade." This diplomatic exchange is the latest in a series of confrontations between India and Pakistan at multilateral forums like the UNHRC over the contentious issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

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