India strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations, accusing it of spreading “biased and false narratives” on Saturday after Islamabad raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir during a discussion on the annual report of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said Pakistan’s reference to Jammu and Kashmir was “unwarranted” as the matter is strictly internal to India. Responding to Pakistan’s response at the UN General Assembly, Harish said Pakistan had once again misused a UN platform to pursue its political interests.
“The unwarranted reference by Pakistan to a matter strictly internal to India, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, has compelled me to respond," Harish said.
The Indian envoy also reminded Pakistan that membership of the UN Security Council carries significant responsibility and should not be used to promote “biased and false narratives.” He criticised Pakistan for allegedly circulating misleading communications while serving as a non permanent member of the Security Council.
“Pakistan has decided not to spare this forum either from their characteristic misuse of august UN platforms for their divisive political interests. I’d like to remind Pakistan that being a member of the UN Security Council is a huge responsibility. It’s not a forum for peddling biased and false narratives," Harish said, further alleging that Islamabad had circulated misinformation while serving on the Security Council.
Reiterating India’s long standing position, Harish stated that Jammu and Kashmir “was, is and will always remain” an integral and inalienable part of India. He said any claims suggesting otherwise were baseless and not supported by historical facts.
“Jammu and Kashmir was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Any assertions to the contrary are baseless, devoid of and inconsistent with historical facts," he said.
“Empty rhetoric and hollow claims by Pakistan would not change this fundamental reality," the envoy added.
“Retaining the status quo has so far not enabled effective functioning of the Security Council and cannot do so in future," he said, calling for expansion of both permanent and non permanent categories of Security Council membership as part of broader UN reforms.
The exchange took place after Pakistan’s UN envoy, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, referred to Jammu and Kashmir while speaking on the Security Council’s annual report. India has repeatedly objected to Pakistan raising the Kashmir issue at international forums.
Harish also called for reforms in the UN Security Council, saying its current structure reflects the geopolitical realities of 1945 and needs to be updated to address present day global challenges more effectively.
