GENEVA/NEW DELHI: In a high-wattage clash at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) , India on Tuesday accused Pakistan of using cross-border terrorism as a form of “alternate diplomacy” while saying that the recent decision on J&K was its internal affair and it would brook no interference.Responding to Pakistan’s call for an international investigation into its allegation of human rights violations in J&K, MEA’s secretary (east) Vijay Thakur Singh called it a fabricated narrative which was coming from the epicentre of global terrorism, where ring leaders were sheltered for years.Without naming Pakistan, Singh said one delegation had given a “running commentary'' with offensive rhetoric of false allegations and concocted charges against India, as she underlined that curbs in J&K were temporary and meant to check cross-border terrorism .She took on Pakistan’s attack over recent decisions regarding the status of J&K. “These decisions were taken by our Parliament after a full debate that was televised and enjoyed widespread support. We wish to reiterate that this sovereign decision, like other legislations passed by Parliament, is entirely internal to India. No country can accept interference in its internal affairs, certainly not India,” Singh said.Earlier in the session, Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi demanded an international investigation by the UNHRC into the situation in Kashmir and urged the world rights body not to remain “indifferent” after India revoked J&K’s special status.Qureshi asked the council to urge India to immediately stop the use of pellet guns, lift the curfew, reverse the clampdown and communications blackout, restore fundamental freedoms and liberties, release political prisoners and fulfil obligations under the UN Security Council resolutions and various human rights instruments. “Today, I have knocked on the doors of the Human Rights Council, the repository of the world’s conscience on human rights, to seek justice and respect for the people of Kashmir,” he said.The back-and-forth between the hostile neighbours over J&K dominated the session, potentially setting the stage for a bigger showdown later this month when PM Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan will address the UNGA. India rebutted Pakistan’s allegations also while exercising its right to reply by fielding an officer who belongs to J&K, first secretary with India’s permanent mission in Geneva.MEA first secretary Vimarsh Aryan questioned Pakistan’s locus to criticise India’s recent decisions on J&K, contending that Article 370 was a temporary provision. The official also said OIC, which too has been talking about alleged Indian atrocities, had no locus standi on the issue and J&K would remain an integral part of India.Calling out Pakistan for its “false narrative”, Aryan said Pakistan’s was an ill-disguised effort to advance its territorial ambitions and that terrorism was the worst form of human rights abuse. Probably unsure of support from the 47-member council, Pakistan has not yet pressed for a resolution on the issue.“We are not surprised at Pakistan’s hysterical statements with false, fabricated narratives aimed to politicise and polarise this forum. Pakistan realises that our recent decision cuts the very ground from under its feet by creating obstacles in its continuing sponsorship of cross- border terrorism against India. In this desperate mind-frame, some Pakistani leaders have even gone as far as to call for ‘jihad’ and to encourage violence both inside Jammu & Kashmir and in third countries, in order to paint a picture of ‘genocide’ which even they know is far from reality,” Aryan said.“Pakistan’s nefarious designs will never succeed because the people of India are united in their determination to preserve our territorial integrity along with our core values of democracy, tolerance and unity in diversity. J&K and Ladakh will continue to progress and prosper along with the rest of India,” Aryan said, adding it defied credulity that a country like Pakistan was claiming to speak on human rights on behalf of unnamed countries.The official said Pakistan’s gory record spoke for itself. This rhetoric, he said, would not distract international attention from Pakistan’s persecution and elimination of religious and ethnic minorities — be it the Christians, Sikhs, Shias, Ahmadiyas and Hindus.“This is the reason that Pakistan no longer publishes official statistics about its minorities as India does. Blatant abuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan to persecute minorities is well documented. Aasia Bibi, the Christian woman was incarcerated for years. So was Abdul Shakoor, the 82-year-old Ahmadiya, under Anti-Terrorism Act for selling books. The recent case of abduction, forced conversion and marriage of a minor Sikh girl Jagjit Kaur, exemplifies the state of women, especially from the minority communities in Pakistan,” Aryan said.India, which had braced itself for an attack by Pakistan over the recent changes in the status of J&K, strongly stood its ground with Singh saying the decisions had been taken within the framework of Constitution and would ensure application of progressive measures aimed at ending to gender discrimination, including on property rights and local bodies representation, and social discrimination to J&K and Ladakh.