India Rejects UN Expert’s Allegation Linking Pahalgam Attack to Myanmar Refugee Pressure

India has firmly rejected as “baseless” and “prejudiced” the observations made by a United Nations expert suggesting that refugees from Myanmar faced increased pressure in India following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.

Responding at the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee, Member of Parliament Dilip Saikia strongly objected to the comments made by UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, Thomas Andrews, in his recent report.

“I express serious objection to the baseless and biased observations in the report regarding my country,” Saikia said, denouncing the claim that displaced persons from Myanmar were adversely impacted by the Pahalgam attack.

The UN report had claimed that “following the April 2025 terrorist attack on Hindu tourists in Jammu and Kashmir, refugees from Myanmar have been under severe pressure in India,” despite no evidence of their involvement. It further alleged that Myanmar refugees had been detained, interrogated, and threatened with deportation.

Rejecting these assertions, 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 by the Special Rapporteur.”

He also urged the UN expert not to rely on “unverified and skewed media reports” that aim to malign India, emphasising that the country is home to over 200 million Muslims and upholds the rights of people of all faiths.

Saikia further highlighted India’s ongoing humanitarian engagement with Myanmar, citing relief operations such as Operation Brahma following the March 2025 earthquake, Operation Sadbhav during Typhoon Yagi in 2024, and earlier disaster assistance efforts.

“As a close neighbour, India continues to support all initiatives fostering trust and advancing a Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led path toward peace, stability, and democracy,” he said.

India reiterated its call for an immediate cessation of violence, release of political prisoners, unhindered humanitarian assistance, and inclusive political dialogue in Myanmar, stressing that sustainable peace can only be achieved through credible democratic processes.

Saikia also underlined India’s concerns over deteriorating security and humanitarian conditions in Myanmar, warning of cross-border implications such as drug, arms, and human trafficking.

The Special Rapporteur’s report additionally alleged recent deportations of Rohingya refugees from India to Bangladesh and their transfer to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The UN expert said he is awaiting a formal response from the Indian government regarding these incidents.