Kashmir, March 16, 2025 – India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish, delivered a sharp rebuke to Pakistan on Saturday, asserting that Jammu and Kashmir remains an inalienable part of India and condemning Islamabad’s persistent references to the territory as baseless and unjustified. The statement came during a session at the UN headquarters in New York, underscoring the ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two South Asian neighbours over the disputed region.
Addressing the assembly, Harish responded to remarks made by a former Pakistani Foreign Secretary, saying, “As it is their habit, the former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan today has made an unjustified reference to the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Frequent references will neither validate their claim nor justify their practice of cross-border terrorism.” He emphasized that such rhetoric would not alter the reality of India’s sovereignty over the region, stating, “The fanatical mindset of this nation is well known, as also its record of bigotry. Such efforts will not change the reality that Jammu and Kashmir was, is, and will always be an integral part of India.”
The exchange reflects a long-standing point of contention between India and Pakistan, rooted in the partition of 1947 and the subsequent conflicts over Jammu and Kashmir. India has consistently accused Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism across the Line of Control, a charge Islamabad denies, while Pakistan claims the region’s status remains unresolved and requires international mediation—a position India rejects outright.
Harish’s remarks come amid heightened diplomatic activity at the UN, where India has been reinforcing its stance on territorial integrity and countering narratives from Pakistan. The Indian envoy’s reference to Pakistan’s “fanatical mindset” and “record of bigotry” signals New Delhi’s frustration with what it views as a pattern of provocation, particularly through platforms like the United Nations.
The statement also follows recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir, where India has pointed to the restoration of democratic processes—such as local elections—as evidence of stability and public support for its governance. Indian officials have frequently cited these developments to counter Pakistan’s claims, framing them as a rebuttal to allegations of oppression in the region.
Pakistan has yet to formally respond to Harish’s latest comments, though similar exchanges in the past have prompted sharp retorts from its representatives, accusing India of human rights violations and suppressing Kashmiri self-determination. The back-and-forth at the UN is unlikely to shift the entrenched positions of either side but highlights the enduring challenge of resolving one of the world’s longest-standing geopolitical disputes.
Harish, a seasoned diplomat who assumed his role as India’s Permanent Representative in September 2024, has been vocal in defending India’s interests on the global stage. His tenure has already seen several pointed exchanges with Pakistan, reflecting New Delhi’s strategy of firmly countering narratives it deems hostile or misleading.
As the session concluded, India’s delegation reiterated its call for the international community to focus on combating terrorism and fostering cooperation, rather than entertaining what it described as Pakistan’s “delusional claims.” For now, the diplomatic sparring at the UN serves as a reminder of the deep-seated rivalry that continues to shape India-Pakistan relations.