“UN Turned Invasion Into Dispute”: Jaishankar Slams Global Injustice on Kashmir

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar took a firm stand against the United Nations’ handling of the Kashmir issue, calling out historical injustices and advocating for a reformed and fair global order at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.

Jaishankar highlighted what he termed the “longest-standing illegal occupation” post-World War II, referring to Pakistan’s invasion of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 and its continued occupation of parts of the Indian Union, including Gilgit and Baltistan. He condemned the UN’s failure to recognize Pakistan as the aggressor and equating the “attacker” with the “victim.”

“We all speak of sovereignty and territorial integrity. After the Second World War, the longest-standing illegal occupation pertains to India, what we saw in Kashmir,” Jaishankar remarked. “We went to the UN, but what was an invasion was made into a dispute. The attacker and the victim were put on par.” He named countries like the UK, Canada, Belgium, Australia, and the US as “culpable parties” in this misjudgment.

Emphasizing the need for a consistent application of global norms, Jaishankar asserted, “A strong UN requires a fair UN. A strong global order must have some basic consistency of standards.”

He further criticized the West’s selective approach, contrasting its stance on Myanmar’s military rule with its leniency towards Pakistan’s actions. “Military rule to our east is a no-no, but to the west, it seems to be okay,” he said, underscoring the need to “audit the working of the world for the last eight decades” and push for a new global order reflecting today’s realities.

Jaishankar made these remarks during the session titled ‘Thrones and Thorns: Defending the Integrity of Nations’ at the Raisina Dialogue, a premier multilateral conference hosted annually in India.