India has firmly rejected Pakistan’s persistent references to Jammu and Kashmir at the United Nations, dismissing them as “unwarranted and illegal.” Reaffirming its sovereignty over the region, India also called on Pakistan to vacate the parts of Jammu and Kashmir that it continues to occupy illegally.
The sharp rebuttal came on Tuesday during a United Nations Security Council debate on peacekeeping reforms, where Pakistan once again raised the Kashmir issue. Responding to this, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, categorically dismissed Pakistan’s claims and reaffirmed that “Jammu and Kashmir was, is, and will always remain an integral part of India.”
“India is compelled to note that the delegate of Pakistan has yet again resorted to unwarranted remarks on the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Such repeated references neither validate their illegal claims nor justify their state-sponsored cross-border terrorism,” Harish asserted.
Calls for Pakistan to Vacate Illegally Occupied Territory
In his address, Harish reiterated India’s longstanding position, emphasizing that Pakistan must vacate the areas of Jammu and Kashmir it has illegally occupied.
“Pakistan continues to illegally occupy the territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which it must vacate. We would advise Pakistan not to try to divert the attention of this forum to drive their parochial and divisive agenda. India will refrain from exercising a more elaborate Right of Reply,” he said.
Harish’s statement came in response to Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister, who raised the Kashmir issue during the Security Council debate.
India’s Firm Stand at UNHRC
This is not the first time India has rebuffed Pakistan’s attempts to internationalize the Kashmir issue. Just last week, India firmly countered Pakistan at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) meeting in Geneva, rejecting its allegations of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Exercising India’s right of reply, Indian envoy Kshitij Tyagi criticized Pakistan for peddling baseless accusations.
“India is exercising its right of reply in response to the baseless and malicious references made by Pakistan. It is regrettable to see Pakistan’s so-called leaders and delegates continuing to dutifully spread falsehoods handed down by its military-terrorist complex,” Tyagi stated.
India Calls for Peace, Holds Pakistan Responsible
India has consistently maintained that it seeks normal and peaceful relations with Pakistan. However, New Delhi has underscored that meaningful dialogue can only take place if Islamabad creates an environment free of terrorism and hostility.
Despite repeated diplomatic rebukes, Pakistan continues to raise the Kashmir issue at international forums, an approach India has strongly opposed, calling it a diversionary tactic to shift focus from its own internal challenges and its support for cross-border terrorism.
As tensions persist, India has made it clear that its stance on Jammu and Kashmir remains unwavering, with the expectation that Pakistan must take concrete steps to cease its propaganda and vacate the territories it occupies illegally.
