Daijiworld Media Network – United Nations
United Nations, Jun 24: India on Tuesday strongly rejected Pakistan's remarks on Jammu and Kashmir during an Arria-formula meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), asserting that the Union Territory remains strictly an internal matter of India.
India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, made the remarks while addressing the meeting titled "Bridging the Implementation Gap: UNSC Resolutions and Maintenance of International Peace and Security."
Responding to comments made by Pakistan's representative during the discussion, Harish criticised what he described as an attempt to politicise a forum intended to focus on the implementation of Security Council resolutions.
"I also refer to the unwarranted remarks made by the representative of Pakistan," Harish said during his intervention.
The Indian envoy also questioned the conduct of the meeting's co-chair, stating that it was inappropriate to introduce political issues into the proceedings.
"It is incredible that a co-chair expected to be balanced and unbiased in conduct has chosen to politicise this forum," he said.
Reiterating India's longstanding position, Harish stressed that Jammu and Kashmir does not fall within the scope of international discussion.
"For brevity of time, I would only like to stress that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is a matter strictly internal to India," he said.
"It always has been, is, and will remain so," he added.
The exchange marked another instance of India and Pakistan presenting opposing views on Jammu and Kashmir at a UN platform, with New Delhi maintaining that the matter is entirely domestic and not subject to external mediation.
During his address, Harish primarily focused on the meeting's agenda, highlighting the distinction between Chapters VI and VII of the UN Charter. He argued that mediation mechanisms established under Chapter VI are intended to address specific circumstances and should not be treated as permanent frameworks.
The ambassador also called for a review of outdated mediation arrangements and said Security Council mandates should be aligned with broader United Nations efforts aimed at enhancing effectiveness and efficiency.
However, he reserved his concluding remarks to respond directly to Pakistan's intervention, describing the comments as unwarranted and reiterating India's position that Jammu and Kashmir remains an integral and internal part of the country.