India Rebukes Switzerland, Pakistan at UNHRC Over False Narratives
India challenges Switzerland, Pakistan at UNHRC session.
In a fiery exchange at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on September 10, 2025, India sharply rebuked Switzerland for its “surprising, shallow, and ill-informed” comments on the treatment of minorities in India. The confrontation occurred during the General Debate on the oral update by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights at the 60th Session of the UNHRC, where Switzerland, holding the council’s presidency, urged India to strengthen protections for minorities and uphold freedoms of expression and media.
India’s response, delivered by Kshitij Tyagi, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva, was both pointed and unapologetic. Tyagi described Switzerland’s remarks as a waste of the council’s time, accusing the Swiss delegation of pushing “blatantly false” narratives that fail to reflect India’s reality. “As a close friend and partner, it is disappointing that Switzerland, as UNHRC president, resorts to such remarks,” Tyagi said. He urged Switzerland to focus on its own domestic challenges, including “racism, systematic discrimination, and xenophobia,” while emphasizing India’s status as the world’s largest and most diverse democracy with a deep-rooted commitment to pluralism. “India remains ready to help Switzerland address these concerns,” he added, turning the critique back on the Swiss.
The sharp rebuttal came on the heels of Switzerland’s call for India to take “effective measures” to safeguard minority rights and ensure freedom of expression, a statement that carried added weight given Switzerland’s current role as UNHRC president. India’s response underscored its sensitivity to external criticism on its internal affairs, particularly from a nation it considers a diplomatic ally, and highlighted its confidence in its democratic framework and pluralistic ethos.
Also Read: Global Conference on India’s Manuscript Heritage Begins at Vigyan Bhawan
On the same day, India also engaged in a parallel diplomatic clash with Pakistan, delivering a blistering Right of Reply to Islamabad’s remarks during the debate. Tyagi accused Pakistan of misusing the UNHRC platform to propagate political falsehoods and sponsoring cross-border terrorism. He referenced a string of terrorist attacks linked to Pakistan-based groups, including the 2016 Uri attack, the 2019 Pulwama bombing, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and the recent April 2025 Pahalgam attack, which he described as transforming “a meadow of joy into a killing field.” Tyagi also invoked the memory of the 9/11 attacks, noting that Pakistan had harbored Osama bin Laden until his death in Abbottabad in 2011.
“We need no lessons from a terror sponsor, no sermons from a persecutor of minorities, and no advice from a state that has squandered its own credibility,” Tyagi declared, dismissing Pakistan’s critique as “recycled falsehoods and stale propaganda.” He likened Pakistan’s leadership to a “dump truck,” a biting reference to a recent self-description by Pakistani officials, which he called an “inadvertently apt metaphor” for their conduct at the UNHRC.
The dual exchanges highlight India’s assertive stance on the global stage, particularly in defending its record on minority rights and countering accusations from both allies and adversaries. As the world’s largest democracy, India emphasized its commitment to pluralism and diversity while calling out what it perceives as hypocritical or unfounded criticism. The remarks also reflect ongoing tensions with Pakistan over terrorism and India’s broader push to assert its narrative at international forums like the UNHRC.
As the 60th Session of the UNHRC continues, India’s robust defense of its policies and its pointed counterattacks on Switzerland and Pakistan signal a no-nonsense approach to diplomacy. The exchanges are likely to resonate in diplomatic circles, reinforcing India’s resolve to challenge narratives it deems misleading while highlighting its own challenges to nations critiquing its record.
Also Read: Mauritius PM Warns: India Hit Hard by Trade War Tariffs, Urges Stronger Ties
