India strongly rejected Pakistan’s repeated references to Jammu and Kashmir during a United Nations debate on peacekeeping reforms, calling them “unwarranted” and reaffirming that the region “was, is, and will always be an integral part of India.”
Speaking at the UN Security Council, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, condemned Pakistan for attempting to “divert attention” from the core discussions on peacekeeping.
“India is compelled to note that the delegate of Pakistan has yet again resorted to unwarranted remarks on the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Such repeated references neither validate their illegal claims nor justify their state-sponsored cross-border terrorism,” Harish said.
He further asserted that Pakistan is illegally occupying a portion of Jammu and Kashmir and must vacate the territory. “Pakistan continues to illegally occupy the territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which it must vacate,” he stated firmly, making it clear that India would not allow its sovereignty to be questioned at global forums.
India Stresses Focus on Peacekeeping, Calls for Reforms
Rejecting Pakistan’s “parochial and divisive agenda,” Harish urged Islamabad to stop misusing UN platforms. “We would advise Pakistan not to try to divert attention of this forum,” he said, adding that India would not engage in a detailed rebuttal. “India will refrain from exercising a more elaborate Right of Reply,” he concluded.
While the debate centered on UN peacekeeping reforms, India used the opportunity to highlight modern challenges faced by missions, including threats from armed groups, non-state actors, and advanced weaponry. Harish called for “adequate funding” to ensure peacekeeping operations meet evolving security demands and emphasized the critical role of troop- and police-contributing countries in shaping mission mandates.
India Advocates for Women in Peacekeeping and UNSC Reforms
Harish also underscored India’s leadership in advancing women’s participation in peacekeeping. He noted that India recently hosted the first-ever Conference for Women Peacekeepers from the Global South, reinforcing the essential role of women in peacekeeping operations.
“It is no longer a question of whether women can do peacekeeping. Rather, it is about whether peacekeeping can do without women,” he said.
India reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment” to UN peacekeeping and called for reforms in the Security Council to make it more “reflective and representative of current geopolitical realities.”
The session highlighted India’s firm stance on Kashmir, its advocacy for peacekeeping modernization, and its broader push for a more inclusive and effective UN structure.