Pakistan delivered a strong rebuttal to India at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), stating that India is no champion of peace and that Jammu and Kashmir is neither an integral part of India nor an internal matter.
Speaking during a debate on the peaceful settlement of disputes under UN Security Council Resolution 2788, Pakistan Mission Counsellor Saima Saleem, exercising the right of reply, said that one delegation had attempted to distort facts, deny realities, and level baseless allegations during the discussion.
She said it was ironic for India to preach peace while it continues to violate international law and UN Security Council resolutions, commit aggression against its neighbours, and engage in what Pakistan described as state-sponsored terrorism in the region.
Saleem said Jammu and Kashmir is neither India’s so-called “integral part” nor an internal matter. She added that India’s denial cannot alter the internationally recognised status of the dispute. She noted that India itself had taken the Kashmir issue to the UN Security Council but was now disregarding the Council’s resolutions, stressing that such resolutions do not expire.
The Pakistani diplomat highlighted what she described as a stark contrast between Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). She said that while one side enjoys political freedoms, the other continues to witness repression, arbitrary arrests, and human rights violations.
She further said that the exercise of rights and the denial of rights cannot be equated, adding that the Kashmiri people’s inalienable right to self-determination cannot be denied. Referring to India’s unilateral decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, she said it reflected disregard for international law and the UN Charter.
Saleem said the waters of the Indus River are a lifeline for Pakistan’s 240 million people and should never be used as a weapon of war. She warned that such irresponsible actions could endanger regional peace and stability.
She also said Pakistan remains one of the biggest victims of terrorism, with thousands of innocent civilians having lost their lives, describing these sacrifices as proof of Pakistan’s genuine commitment to combating terrorism.
The Pakistani envoy further alleged that terrorism networks linked to India had expanded beyond the region to the global level, citing the Kulbhushan Jadhav case as an example. She also accused India of allowing Hindutva-inspired extremist ideology to fuel Islamophobia as state policy, while minorities continue to face discrimination and repression.
Saleem said Pakistan had exercised restraint despite provocations, kept the door open for dialogue, and consistently prioritised the peaceful resolution of disputes. She stressed that lasting peace in South Asia can only be achieved through adherence to the UN Charter, international law, and UN Security Council resolutions, rather than denial or intransigence.
She urged India to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2788 in both letter and spirit, honour its international commitments, and play a constructive role in the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
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