India on Friday delivered a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), accusing Islamabad of misusing international platforms to promote what it called false and biased narratives on Jammu and Kashmir.
India's Strong Response at UN
Responding to references made by Pakistan's Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad during discussions on the UN Security Council's Annual Report, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, P. Harish, reiterated that all matters related to Jammu and Kashmir are strictly internal to India.
Jammu and Kashmir is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India, Harish told the General Assembly. He added that any assertions to the contrary are baseless, devoid of and inconsistent with historical facts. Empty rhetoric and hollow claims by Pakistan would not change this fundamental reality.
Accusations Against Pakistan
Taking aim at Islamabad's conduct at the UN, Harish said Pakistan had once again chosen to misuse an august international forum for its political agenda. Pakistan has decided not to spare this forum either from their characteristic misuse of UN platforms for their divisive political interests, he said, while reminding Islamabad of the huge responsibility that comes with being a member of the UN Security Council. Pakistan's current two-year term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council ends later this year.
Gilgit-Baltistan Elections Tensions
The exchange came amid fresh tensions over Pakistan's plans to hold general elections on June 7 in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, which India claims is part of its territory under illegal occupation by Pakistan.
Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) lodged a strong protest against the proposed elections, asserting that Gilgit-Baltistan remains an integral part of India that has been illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan. The Government of India categorically rejects any attempts by Pakistan to bring material change to areas under Pakistan's illegal occupation, the MEA said. It further alleged that Pakistan's actions could not conceal concerns related to human rights violations, political repression, economic exploitation and denial of freedoms in the region. The ministry also reiterated that Pakistan must vacate territories that it occupies illegally.
Pakistan's Rejection
Pakistan, however, rejected India's objections, with its Foreign Office describing New Delhi's remarks on the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan elections as baseless.
The latest diplomatic sparring underscores the continuing differences between the two neighbours over Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied territories.
