By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – India on Monday slammed Pakistan for repeated references to Jammu and Kashmir at a UN debate on peacekeeping reforms, asserted that the region “was, is, and will always be an integral part of India”.
Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish asserted, “Such repeated references neither validate their (Pakistan’s) illegal claims nor justify their state-sponsored cross-border terrorism,”
Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, snubbed Pakistan at the UNSC debate for attempting to “divert attention” from the core discussions on peacekeeping.
“India is compelled to note that the delegate of Pakistan has yet again resorted to unwarranted remarks on the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Such repeated references neither validate their illegal claims nor justify their state-sponsored cross-border terrorism,” he said.
He said Pakistan itself is illegally occupying a part of Jammu and Kashmir and must vacate the territory. “Pakistan continues to illegally occupy the territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which it must vacate,” he said.
He asserted that India would not allow its sovereignty to be questioned at global forums.
Mr Harish ridiculed Pakistan’s attempts to use the platform to pursue its “parochial and divisive agenda.”
He said, “We would advise Pakistan not to try to divert attention of this forum.”
India, he noted, would not engage in a detailed response but made its position clear. “India will refrain from exercising a more elaborate Right of Reply.”
He spoke about women’s participation in this endeavor.
Indian envoy pointed out that India recently organized the first-ever Conference for Women Peacekeepers from the Global South in New Delhi.
He emphasized that women play a critical role in operations.
“It is no longer a question of whether women can do peacekeeping. Rather, it is about whether peacekeeping can do without women,” he said.
He reaffirmed India’s “unwavering commitment” to UN peacekeeping and called for Security Council reforms to make the body more “reflective and representative of current geopolitical realities.”
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