India strongly criticised Pakistan for raising the issue of Jammu and Kashmir during an Arria-formula meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), asserting that the Union Territory is an integral part of India and remains a strictly internal matter.
India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish, delivered India’s statement during the Arria-formula meeting titled “Bridging the Implementation Gap: UNSC Resolutions and Maintenance of International Peace and Security.”
He highlighted the differing nature and applicability of Chapters VI and VII of the UN Charter while addressing issues related to international peace and security.
Harish said that Chapter VII resolutions are adopted to address specific realities and prevailing circumstances and do not possess perpetual validity. He noted that failure to implement such resolutions can have immediate consequences, potentially leading to a deterioration of peace and security situations.
He said that Chapter VI of the UN Charter is fundamentally different, providing a broad range of mechanisms such as negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation and arbitration to resolve disputes that may threaten international peace and security. He added that these mechanisms must be reviewed in accordance with evolving circumstances and changing geopolitical contexts rather than being treated as permanently applicable.
India, however, used the opportunity to strongly object to Pakistan’s remarks on Jammu and Kashmir during the meeting. Harish said it was “incredible” that Pakistan, despite being a co-chair of the Arria-formula discussion, chose to politicise the forum and make what he described as unwarranted comments on Indian territory.
“Jammu and Kashmir has always been, is and will remain a matter strictly internal to India,” Harish asserted, reiterating New Delhi’s long-standing position on the issue.
