India strongly objected to Pakistan raising the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at a United Nations Security Council forum, accusing Islamabad of misusing its position as co-chair to politicise the platform. Addressing an informal meeting of the Security Council, India’s Permanent Representative P Harish asserted that Jammu and Kashmir remains an internal matter of India.
“The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is a matter strictly internal to India. It has always been, is, and will remain so”, India’s Permanent Representative P Harish declared. “It is incredible that a co-Chair expected to be balanced and unbiased in conduct, has chosen to politicize this forum”, he said.
The meeting on “Bridging the Implementation Gap: Security Council Resolutions and Maintenance of International Peace and Security” was jointly convened by China and Pakistan, with their ambassadors co-chairing the session. During the discussion, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad raised the Kashmir issue and criticised India.
India highlights UN mandate review
Harish also called for a review of Security Council mandates as part of efforts under the UN80 framework, which is examining the functioning of the global organisation in its 80th year.
“India would like to emphasise that at a time when member states are undertaking mandate implementation review under the UN80 framework for all UN General Assembly mandates in order to achieve efficiencies, there is no reason why UN Security Council mandates should be outside the purview of such UN80 frameworks”, he said.
He suggested reviewing provisions under Chapter VI of the UN Charter, which deals with mediation and negotiations for disputes that could threaten international peace and security.
India raises concerns over outdated frameworks
Harish said mediation mechanisms created under changing circumstances cannot be treated as permanent. “These interventions are drawn up in order to address the prevailing realities and do not have perpetual validity”, and, therefore, “they warrant a review in accordance with changing circumstances and contexts”, he said.
Citing the Palestine issue, Harish said solutions have remained elusive despite repeated changes in mediation frameworks over decades. “There exists an undeniable case for reviewing outdated mediation frameworks, he said. “Any assumption of the perpetual applicability of a Chapter VI mediation intervention is erroneous to say the least”.
About the UN Arria Formula meeting
The discussion was held under the Arria Formula, an informal Security Council meeting format involving interested nations, officials, organisations, and individuals.
The format was introduced by Venezuelan diplomat Diego Arria to allow discussions beyond the Council’s formal procedures.