India Challenges Pakistan's Claims at UN Over Jammu and Kashmir Budget

India has strongly rebuked Pakistan during a session of the United Nations, stating that the developmental budget of Jammu and Kashmir is more than double the recent bailout package sought by Pakistan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Anupama Singh, First Secretary at the Indian Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, made these remarks following Pakistan's criticisms regarding the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

While addressing the high-level segment of the 61st Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Singh exercised India’s Right of Reply. She remarked, “It is hard to take lectures on democracy from a country where civilian governments rarely complete their terms.” This was in reference to comments made by Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Singh highlighted that the substantial voter turnout in both general and assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir demonstrates a rejection of the ideologies of terrorism and violence propagated by Pakistan. “People of Jammu and Kashmir have rejected the ideology of terrorism and violence propagated by Pakistan and are surging ahead on the path of development and democracy,” she stated.

In a direct rebuttal to Pakistan’s claims, Singh stated, “If the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world’s highest bridge inaugurated in Jammu and Kashmir last year, is fake, then Pakistan must be hallucinating or living in the la-la land.” She questioned Pakistan's credibility, suggesting that it is hard to accept that its developmental budget is not only less than that of Jammu and Kashmir but that it recently sought a bailout from the IMF.

Last year, the IMF approved a disbursement of approximately one billion USD to Pakistan under the Extended Fund Facility, raising the total to around 2.1 billion USD under this arrangement. Despite this, Singh insisted that Jammu and Kashmir continues to advance politically, economically, and socially despite Pakistan's attempts to destabilise the region through state-sponsored terrorism.

Singh continued, “Pakistan would do well to focus on fixing its deepening internal crises rather than masking them with grandstanding at such a platform—the world can see through its charade.”

Further commenting on the OIC’s alignment with Pakistan's views, she mentioned that their repeated assertions simply reveal how deeply they have been influenced by one member. “Pakistan’s incessant propaganda now reeks of envy,” Singh said. “We will make a few points to dismantle it with facts.”

In closing, India reinforced its position on Jammu and Kashmir, asserting, “It was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. No amount of wishful rhetoric or audacious propaganda by Pakistan can alter this immutable fact. The only outstanding dispute regarding this region is the illegal occupation of Indian territories by Pakistan.” India called upon Islamabad to vacate these areas that remain under its occupation. These remarks reflect ongoing tensions between the two nations regarding sovereignty and territorial claims.