“Stop living in la-la land”: India gives strong reply to Pakistan in UN on J&K development

India issued a strong diplomatic rebuke to Pakistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on February 25, 2026. It occurred during the high-level segment of its ongoing 61st regular session (February 23 to March 31, 2026; the article’s “55th” and “February 23 to 31” are incorrect—it is the 61st, which runs through March 31).

Exercising India’s right of reply, First Secretary Anupama Singh responded to the mention of Pakistan and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), calling their allegations “baseless propaganda” that smacked of “jealousy” and was divorced from reality. He completely rejected the claims, and said that India does not want to respect them, but will respond with facts.

Singh again said that **Jammu and Kashmir “was, is and always will be an essential and inalienable part of India”**, and that its annexation in 1947 was “absolutely legal and cannot be altered” under the Indian Independence Act and international law. He said the only unresolved issue is Pakistan’s “illegal” and “forcible occupation” of parts of Indian territory, and asked Islamabad to vacate those areas.

Highlighting J&K’s progress, Singh cited record voting in the recent Lok Sabha and Assembly elections as evidence that people are rejecting terrorism and embracing democracy and development. He mocked Pakistan’s skepticism towards infrastructure like the Chenab Rail Bridge (the world’s highest railway arch bridge, to be inaugurated in 2025) and said that if such projects are considered “fake”, then Pakistan must be “living in la-la land” or “delusional.”

He compared J&K’s development budget – which is more than double Pakistan’s recent IMF bailout package – and questioned the lessons of democracy from a country where elected governments rarely complete their terms. Singh accused Pakistan of destabilizing the region through “persistent state-sponsored terrorism” and criticized the OIC for becoming an “echo chamber” for Islamabad.

The talks reflect India’s strong stance amid frequent mention of Kashmir at the UN forum, focusing on development, democratic participation and bilateral solutions, while rejecting external interference. (298 words)