NEW DELHI Jan 16 (KNS) : India issued a firm rebuke to Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, condemning what it described as the persistent misuse of UN platforms to push a "divisive agenda" after Islamabad’s envoy raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
The sharp response was delivered by Counsellor Eldos Mathew Punnoose of India’s Permanent Mission during the plenary debate on the UN Secretary-General’s annual report as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS). It followed references to Jammu and Kashmir made by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad.
“At a time when member states must rise above narrow national interests, Pakistan continues to misuse all platforms and processes within the UN to pursue its divisive agenda,” stated Punnoose. “This forum is no exception. Pakistan has again made an unwarranted reference to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral and inalienable part of India.”
India categorically rejected any attempt to conflate the right to self-determination with secessionist movements within democratic nations. “The right to self-determination is a fundamental principle enshrined in the UN Charter. However, it must not be misused to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of pluralistic, democratic states,” Punnoose asserted.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHe urged Pakistan to desist from “baseless allegations and false narratives detached from ground realities.”
Beyond the bilateral rebuttal, the Indian representative pivoted to broader multilateral concerns, highlighting the urgent developmental challenges confronting the Global South, including climate justice and financing. “India has consistently worked to bring these issues to the forefront of UN deliberations. What is needed now is concerted and focused follow-up action to translate the concerns of the Global South into concrete, tangible outcomes,” he said.
Punnoose also addressed the wider challenges facing the United Nations, noting the organization is navigating a “critical phase” in fulfilling its mandate. “The world expects the UN to deliver effectively across all three of its pillars: peace and security, development, and human rights,” he stated.
Expressing concern over the UN’s perceived limitations, India stressed that its “repeated inability to intervene effectively in core responsibilities, particularly in maintaining international peace and security, raises serious questions about its efficacy and credibility.” As conflicts persist globally, Punnoose concluded, “the world looks to the UN to deliver on its promise and end human suffering.” (KNS)