New Delhi: India strongly rejected Pakistan’s remarks on Jammu and Kashmir at a United Nations forum on Tuesday, reiterating that the Union Territory remains an integral and internal matter of the country. The response came after Pakistan once again raised the Kashmir issue during discussions at the international body, prompting a sharp rebuttal from India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish.
Addressing the forum, Harish criticized Pakistan for attempting to politicize the proceedings and questioned the conduct of the co-chair overseeing the session. He expressed concern that a platform intended for balanced and constructive dialogue was being used to advance political narratives unrelated to the agenda under discussion.
“The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is a matter strictly internal to India. It has always been, is, and will remain so,” Harish stated, reaffirming New Delhi’s longstanding position on the issue. His remarks underscored India’s consistent stance that matters concerning Jammu and Kashmir fall entirely within its sovereign jurisdiction and are not subject to external intervention.
The Indian envoy also highlighted the ongoing review of United Nations mandates under the UN-80 framework; an initiative aimed at improving efficiency and effectiveness across the organization. Harish argued that just as mandates of the UN General Assembly are being reviewed, mandates associated with the UN Security Council should also be examined under the same framework to ensure accountability and operational efficiency.
The diplomatic exchange reflects the continuing tensions between India and Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir, a subject that Islamabad frequently raises at international forums despite repeated objections from New Delhi. India has consistently maintained that all issues related to Jammu and Kashmir are internal matters and has urged Pakistan to refrain from internationalizing the issue.
The latest confrontation at the UN comes amid renewed strains in bilateral relations. It follows recent remarks by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif concerning the Indus Waters Treaty, which further intensified diplomatic rhetoric between the two neighboring countries.
