United Nations, Dec 16: India on Monday delivered a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on “Leadership for Peace,” firmly rejecting Islamabad’s claims of “unresolved disputes” over Jammu and Kashmir and asserting that the Union Territory, along with Ladakh, is an integral and inalienable part of India.
Responding to Pakistan’s remarks during the debate, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, described Pakistan as the “global epicentre of terror” and accused it of misusing the UN platform to further its “obsessive focus on harming India and its people.”
“I refer to the statement made by the representative of Pakistan today. India would like to reiterate that the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral and inalienable part of India. They were, are, and will always remain so,” Parvathaneni said, adding that Pakistan’s repeated references to J&K reflect its divisive agenda.
He further remarked that a non-permanent member of the Security Council that pursues such an agenda cannot be expected to uphold its international responsibilities. “A serving non-permanent Security Council member that chooses to further this obsession in all meetings and platforms of the UN cannot be expected to fulfil its designated obligations,” he said.
Highlighting Pakistan’s long record of sponsoring terrorism, the Indian envoy strongly defended New Delhi’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. He said India had entered the treaty 65 years ago in good faith, but Pakistan had repeatedly violated its spirit through wars and sustained terror campaigns against India.
Citing the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed in a religion-based targeted assault, Parvathaneni said the incident underscored Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism. He stated that India’s decision to hold the treaty in abeyance would remain until Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably” ends its support for terrorism.
The Indian envoy also criticised Pakistan’s internal political situation, accusing its military establishment of undermining democratic processes. He referred to the jailing of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the banning of political parties, and what he termed a “constitutional coup” through amendments granting immunity to the country’s military leadership.
“Let me be clear India will counter Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in all its forms and manifestations with all its might,” Parvathaneni asserted.
India’s response came after Pakistan’s representative once again raised the Kashmir issue and criticised India’s decision regarding the Indus Waters Treaty during the UNSC debate.