India has called on Pakistan to end what it described as grave and ongoing human rights violations, while treating Islamabad’s latest provocations at the UN with contempt.

The exchange came during the general debate at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Pakistan spoke first under the Item 9 agenda on racism, making allegations about Jammu and Kashmir and minority treatment in India.

India’s delegate confined the response to a single line, saying that regarding provocation by a state that sponsors terrorism and is a serial violator of human rights, India’s replies earlier in the session were on record and the remarks were treated with the contempt they deserved.

Separately, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk accused Pakistani authorities of using excessive lethal force and arbitrary detention to suppress protests, while praising India’s dialogue-based response to recent student demonstrations. The Council’s month-long session runs through October 7.

The session’s Item 9 debate has become a regular stage for the two neighbours’ exchanges. India has consistently rejected Pakistan’s claims on Kashmir. New Delhi has said the territory’s status is settled.