NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations, accusing it of continuing to use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of state policy and reaffirming that Jammu and Kashmir “has always been, is, and will remain” an integral part of India.
The remarks were made by India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, during the UN Security Council’s High-Level Open Debate on “Natural Resources Governance: the Foundation of Peace, Security and Prosperity.”
Responding to Pakistan’s intervention during the debate, Harish accused Islamabad of misusing the forum to advance what he described as a false narrative.
“It was not our intention to bring other issues into this forum, but my delegation is compelled to respond to Pakistan, as it has chosen to misuse today’s discussion to peddle its false narrative,” he said.
Reiterating India’s position on Jammu and Kashmir, Harish said the Union Territory is an integral and inalienable part of the country.
“For the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, it has always been, is, and will remain an integral and inalienable part of India. This is the constitutional and legal reality that Pakistan deliberately chooses to ignore,” he said.
The Indian envoy further stated that the only unresolved issue relating to Jammu and Kashmir was what India describes as Pakistan’s illegal occupation of Indian territory.
“The only outstanding issue with regard to Jammu and Kashmir is the naked aggression and illegal occupation of India’s sovereign territory by Pakistan,” Harish said.
Referring to the Indus Waters Treaty, Harish reiterated India’s position that meaningful bilateral cooperation requires mutual trust, which he argued is undermined by Pakistan’s alleged support for cross-border terrorism.
“Our position on the Indus Water Treaty remains clear and consistent. Cooperation on the basis of mutual trust and goodwill cannot be expected when cross-border terrorism is regularly deployed as an instrument of state policy,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Harish urged Pakistan to address its internal challenges rather than criticising India on international platforms.
“Instead of pointing fingers at India, Pakistan would serve itself and its people far better by putting its own house in order,” he said.
