India gave a sharply-worded reply to Pakistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) following Islamabad’s efforts to make international what had been an internal issue in Kashmir. India’s diplomat Kshitij Tyagi called Pakistan a “failed state” that “lives off international handouts” and pointed to its abysmal record of human rights abuses and persecution of minorities.
India Slams Pakistan’s ‘Unhealthy Obsession’ With Kashmir
Addressing the seventh session of the 58th Session of the UNHRC in Geneva, Tyagi condemned Pakistan for its ongoing interference in India’s internal affairs. “It is unfortunate to see Pakistan’s so-called leaders and representatives still faithfully propagating lies passed on by its military terrorist complex,” he stated.
Tyagi reiterated that Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are part of India and “inalienable” territory. He went on to reiterate that the latest political, social, and economic developments in the region only reflect the triumph of India’s rule in normalizing the place after decades of terrorism sponsored by Pakistan.
“Unprecedented political, social, and economic advancement in J&K over the last few years stands testimony to people’s faith in the government’s resolve to establish normalcy in a terror-troubled state-sponsored by Pakistan for decades,” he said.
Who is Kshitij Tyagi?
Kshitij Tyagi, an engineer turned diplomat, has been acting as a Counsellor in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN since January 2025. Tyagi has a Mechanical Engineering and an MTech in Thermal Energy & Environment Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur.
He served as a business analyst at Jones Lang LaSalle between 2007 and 2010 before joining the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy as a scientist. Following a successful clearing of the elite Indian civil services exam in 2012, he joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
His initial foreign assignment was as Third Secretary at the Indian Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2014. He subsequently worked as Second Secretary in Brazil (2015-2018) and First Secretary in Egypt (2018-2023). He was appointed First Secretary at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN in January 2024 before being upgraded to Counsellor in January 2025.
India Condemns Pakistan Human Rights Abuses
During his address at the UNHRC, Tyagi asserted that Pakistan has no place to preach to others regarding human rights. Human rights abuses, persecution of minorities, and erosion of democratic values make up Pakistan’s state policies,” he said.
He called on Islamabad to concentrate on domestic governance instead of keeping its “unhealthy obsession” with India. “Pakistan needs to overcome its unhealthy obsession with India and concentrate on delivering real governance and justice to its citizens,” he further added.
