Geneva: At the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Shah Faisal Mohammad, representing the ECO-FAWN society, condemned the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, calling it a “gruesome act of terror” and a “blatant violation of international human rights and humanitarian law,” carried out by Pakistani-backed terrorist organizations.
Shah emphasized that civilians were targeted solely for exercising their fundamental rights, including freedom of travel, movement, and religion.
“Human rights cannot coexist with organized terror,” he warned, noting that such attacks follow a deliberate pattern aimed at destabilizing peace, dividing communities, and suppressing freedoms in the region.
India urged the Council to take action against the global networks that sustain terrorism, including cross-border financing, overseas training camps, ideological networks, and safe havens that allow extremists to operate with impunity. “These networks must be dismantled. No terror group should have safe havens, media platforms, or political coverage,” Shah stated.
He called on all member states to investigate, expose, and sanction both perpetrators and their supporters, cautioning that silence or inaction only emboldens violent actors. Highlighting Jammu and Kashmir’s long-standing pluralistic character, India noted that the recent violence sought to “break the spirit of a secular, inclusive society” amid the region’s ongoing transformation.
Shah concluded by reaffirming the right of Indian citizens to live in peace, dignity, and security, free from extremist threats. “The people of India deserve to live without fear,” he urged, calling on the Council to stand firm against forces undermining stability and human rights.
