At the United Nations General Assembly, India strongly criticized Pakistan for misusing the platform to advance a "divisive agenda" by raising the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Eldos Mathew Punnoose, from the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, accused Pakistan of spreading "baseless allegations and falsehoods" and presenting a distorted picture of reality.
Punnoose asserted that while the right to self-determination is a fundamental principle, it should not be abused to encourage secession in pluralistic and democratic states. He stated that Jammu and Kashmir "was, is and will always be an integral part of India". He urged Pakistan to refrain from making baseless allegations and misrepresentations.
This firm response came after Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, brought up Jammu and Kashmir during his address to the General Assembly. India has repeatedly stated its desire for normal neighborly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence.
Punnoose also addressed the UN's effectiveness, particularly in maintaining international peace and security, and emphasized the unique developmental challenges faced by the Global South, including development financing and climate justice. He noted that the UN's inability to intervene effectively in critical situations raises questions about its efficacy, legitimacy, and credibility. He stressed the importance of the UN delivering on its promises to end human suffering as conflicts continue across the globe.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have been high since India revoked Article 370 of its constitution on August 5, 2019, effectively ending Jammu and Kashmir's special status and dividing the state into two Union Territories. India's Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish has previously stated that Pakistan continues to illegally occupy territory in Jammu and Kashmir, which it must vacate. India has also accused Pakistan of using the Kashmir issue to attack democracies with falsehoods, and of supporting cross-border terrorism.
