India criticised Pakistan at the UN, accusing it of misusing self-determination to push false narratives on Kashmir during debates unrelated to the issue.
The national flags of India and Pakistan are seen side by side | Photo: ANI
India on Thursday strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations, accusing it of misusing the principle of self-determination to push a divisive political agenda and target democratic, plural societies by repeatedly raising the Kashmir issue.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Eldos Punoose, Counsellor at India’s Mission to the United Nations, said Pakistan continued to abuse international platforms to spread falsehoods, even when the agenda had no connection to Kashmir.
Advertisement
“At a time when member states have to rise beyond their narrow considerations, Pakistan continues to misuse all platforms and processes in the UN to drive their divisive agenda,” Punoose said.
Advertisement
Punoose underlined that the right to self-determination, while protected under the UN Charter, cannot be distorted to justify separatism in democratic and pluralistic countries.
“The right to self-determination is a fundamental principle enshrined in the UN Charter. However, this right must not be abused to encourage secession in pluralistic and democratic states,” he said.
He reiterated India’s long-standing position that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is “an integral and inalienable part of India”.
The remarks came after Pakistan’s Permanent Representative, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, referred to Kashmir during discussions on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s annual report on the organisation’s work.
India noted that Pakistan routinely raises Kashmir regardless of the subject under discussion, a pattern that has increasingly been ignored by other member states.
“This forum is no exception either, and Pakistan made an unwarranted reference to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, an integral and inalienable part of India,” Punoose said.
He added that Pakistan should refrain from making “baseless allegations and falsehoods” that are detached from reality.
During his address, Ahmad also spoke about self-determination for Palestinians and referred to respect for UN resolutions. India countered by pointing to Security Council Resolution 47 of April 21, 1948, which calls on Pakistan to withdraw its forces and infiltrators from all of Kashmir.
India has consistently maintained that calls for a plebiscite are obsolete, arguing that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have repeatedly expressed their choice by participating in elections and electing their representatives.
Ahmad also reiterated Pakistan’s opposition to expanding the UN Security Council’s permanent membership, a stance India says stems from hostility towards India and places Pakistan at odds with a majority of UN members, including African nations seeking permanent representation.
Advertisement
