New Delhi: In a tense exchange at the United Nations Security Council, India forcefully rejected Pakistan’s repeated mentions of Jammu and Kashmir during a debate on peacekeeping reforms. The incident unfolded as diplomats gathered to discuss the future of UN peacekeeping operations, highlighting the ongoing diplomatic friction between the two South Asian nations.
Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, delivered a sharp rebuke to Pakistan’s delegation, describing their remarks on Jammu and Kashmir as “unwarranted.” Harish emphasized India’s unwavering stance on the region’s status, stating, “Jammu and Kashmir was, is, and will always be an integral part of India.”
The Indian envoy further accused Pakistan of attempting to derail the focus of the forum, urging them to refrain from pushing their “parochial and divisive agenda.” Harish’s comments came in response to statements made by Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister, who had raised the Kashmir issue during the discussion.
In a pointed statement, Harish asserted that Pakistan continues to “illegally occupy” portions of Jammu and Kashmir, demanding that they “must vacate” these territories. He dismissed Pakistan’s repeated references to the region, stating that such mentions neither legitimize their claims nor justify what India terms as “state-sponsored cross-border terrorism.”
The exchange underscores the enduring tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, a dispute that has persisted since the partition of the subcontinent in 1947. India maintains its desire for normal neighborly relations with Pakistan but insists that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment free of terror and hostility for such engagement.
This latest diplomatic confrontation follows recent comments by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, in a podcast interview, recounted his efforts to foster peace with Pakistan. Modi recalled inviting then-Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his 2014 swearing-in ceremony as a gesture of goodwill, but lamented that such noble attempts at peace were met with “hostility and betrayal.”
As the debate on UN peacekeeping reforms continues, this incident serves as a reminder of the complex geopolitical challenges that often overshadow international cooperation efforts, even in forums dedicated to global peace and security.
