India on Tuesday delivered a scathing reply to Pakistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), accusing Islamabad of misusing the forum with provocative and baseless remarks. India’s representative, Kshitij Tyagi, pointed to recent Pakistan Air Force (PAF) strikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that reportedly killed at least 30 civilians.

“A delegation that epitomises the antithesis of this approach continues to abuse this forum with baseless and provocative statements against India. Instead of coveting our territory, they would do well to vacate the Indian territory under their illegal occupation and focus on rescuing an economy on life support, a polity muzzled by military dominance, and a human rights record stained by persecution,” Tyagi said. “Perhaps once they find time away from exporting terrorism, harbouring UN-proscribed terrorists, and bombing their own people,” he added.

Tyagi’s remarks, delivered during Agenda Item 4 of the UNHRC session, came as global media highlighted the deadly PAF air strikes in Matre Dara village, Tirah Valley, on September 21. Reports indicated that JF-17 Thunder jets dropped at least eight LS-6 precision glide bombs, flattening civilian houses. Eyewitnesses claimed multiple bodies were recovered from the rubble.

While the Pakistan Army denied the allegations, Amnesty International earlier slammed Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as showing an “alarming disregard for civilian life.”