NEW DELHI: India has dismissed Pakistan’s “repeated references” to Jammu and Kashmir during discussions at the United Nations, firmly declaring that the region “was, is, and will always remain an integral part of India.” India criticized Pakistan for utilizing the UN platform to promote its “narrow and divisive agenda.”
“India feels compelled to point out that the representative from Pakistan has once again resorted to baseless comments regarding the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. These persistent references do not legitimize their unlawful claims nor excuse their state-sponsored cross-border terrorism,” said Parvathaneni Harish, India’s permanent representative to the UN, while addressing the Security Council.
India further labeled Pakistan’s assertions over J&K as “unlawful” and called upon it to relinquish its hold over the region. “Pakistan continues to unlawfully occupy Jammu and Kashmir, and it must withdraw,” he stated.
“We advise Pakistan not to attempt to divert the attention of this forum,” he added. Harish clarified that India would refrain from providing a detailed response, while still making its position unmistakably clear. “India will abstain from exercising a more elaborate Right of Reply,” he concluded.
Earlier this month, Pakistan’s former foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua had addressed the matter of J&K during an informal assembly commemorating the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, eliciting a vigorous response from India.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had also repudiated Pakistan’s accusations of its involvement in the Balochistan train hijacking. “We firmly reject the unfounded allegations put forth by Pakistan. The entire world knows where the source of global terrorism lies. Pakistan should introspect instead of deflecting the blame for its own internal issues and failures onto others,” stated the MEA.
