India all geared against Pakistan in Geneva; Vikas Swarup to lead delegation

NEW DELHI: India is all geared up as Pakistan is all set to raise Kashmir at the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council that will take place in Geneva from February 24 to March 20. Secretary (West) MEA Vikas Swarup will lead the Indian delegation

Pakistani foreign minister SM Qureshi will be leading his country’s delegation for the meet. While Pakistan has narrow one point agenda on Kashmir, India is expected to focus on global agenda including SDGs, ET has reliably learnt.

A sharp reply from India is highly likely when Pakistan raises Kashmir issue.


This is for the second time Pakistan FM will be travelling to Geneva to raise Kashmir after New Delhi removed special status for the erstwhile state in August. This session comes close on heels of UNSG visit to Pakistan and begins on day US President Donald Trump arrives in India.

Pakistan was keen to bring a resolution on Kashmir in the council that time but failed to get any support.

Earlier in Geneva, India reached out to each and every member of the 47-member UN Human Rights Council during its September 9-27 2019 session and ensured that Pakistan fails to introduce either an Urgent Debate or a resolution on the Kashmir issue.

Last September, Pakistan not only failed to initiate an urgent debate, resolution and Presidential statement at UNHRC but also failed to produce list of 58 countries which it claimed supported it at Geneva.