India Dismisses UN Expert’s Claim Linking Pahalgam Attack to Myanmar Displaced Persons

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 30: India has categorically dismissed as “baseless and biased” the observations made by a UN expert on Myanmar, who alleged that refugees from the Southeast Asian nation were “under severe pressure” in India following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.

Delivering India’s statement during an interactive dialogue in the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, Member of Parliament Dilip Saikia rejected the report by UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, Thomas Andrews, calling it “prejudiced and blinkered.”

“I strongly denounce the biased approach adopted by the Special Rapporteur, who has viewed the innocent civilian victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack through a communal lens,” Saikia said.

The report by Andrews had claimed that “refugees from Myanmar have been under severe pressure in India” after the April 22 attack on Hindu tourists in Jammu and Kashmir, despite no Myanmar nationals being involved. It further alleged that refugees had been detained, interrogated, and threatened with deportation by Indian authorities.

Rejecting the assertion, Saikia said, “The allegation that the Pahalgam terrorist attack impacted displaced persons from Myanmar has absolutely no factual bearing. My country rejects such prejudiced and blinkered analysis.”

He further cautioned the UN expert against relying on “unverified and skewed media reports” aimed at maligning India’s image, noting that India is home to more than 200 million Muslims, nearly 10 percent of the world’s Muslim population.

Reaffirming India’s consistent position on Myanmar, Saikia said that as a close neighbour, India supports all initiatives promoting peace, stability, and democracy through a “Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led process.”

“We reiterate our consistent position calling for an immediate cessation of violence, release of political prisoners, unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance, and inclusive political dialogue,” Saikia said.

He also expressed concern over Myanmar’s deteriorating security and humanitarian situation, warning of its cross-border implications including transnational crimes such as drug, arms, and human trafficking.

Highlighting India’s humanitarian outreach, Saikia recalled ‘Operation Brahma’, launched after the March 2025 Myanmar earthquake, which dispatched over 1,000 metric tonnes of relief material and medical teams. This followed earlier efforts like Operation Sadbhav during Typhoon Yagi in 2024.

The Special Rapporteur’s report had also alleged that in May 2025, around 40 Rohingya refugees were detained in Delhi and transferred to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while others were deported to Bangladesh claims that India has not confirmed publicly.

Andrews said he had written to the Indian government seeking clarification and was awaiting a formal response.