At a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Israel-Hamas conflict, India has said that it will treat the reference by Pakistan to Kashmir with contempt and will not dignify it with a response. The remarks made by India’s Deputy Representative to the United Nations, R. Ravindra came on October 25, 2023, after the Pakistani UN envoy referred to Kashmir at the UNSC for the situation in the Middle East.
Pakistani Narrative at the UN
Once again Pakistan has raised the Kashmir Issue at the United Nations and attempted to justify its position in the UNSC by drawing parallels between Kashmir and Palestine. Munir Akram, who represented Pakistan at the UN stated that Pakistan condemns terrorism in all forms but considers the pursuit of rights, free from foreign occupation as not constituting terrorism. It is clearly evident that Pakistan was referring to Kashmir. He also criticizes several countries including the United States of America on terrorism stance.
Remarks by the Indian Envoy
Before I end, there was a remark of habitual nature by one delegation referring to the Union Territories that are integral and inalienable parts of my country, Ravindra said. “I would treat these remarks with the contempt they deserve and not dignify them with a response in the interest of time,” he said.
India’s Warning
Simultaneously, India issued a warning against Pakistan form mentioning Kashmir during the Security Council Meet on the Israel-Gaza Situation The Indian Deputy Permanent Representative at the UN, Ambassador Ravindra stated that when Pakistan’s representative Ambassador Munir Akram referred to Kashmir, India considered it contemptuous and would not respect such comments. Ravindra emphasised that Kashmir is an integral and undivided part of India and they would not show respect to such references in the UNSC.
American Stance on Terrorism
Furthermore, in the same Security Council meeting, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared that all acts of terrorism, whether committed by Pakistan based terrorist organisations like Lashkar-e-Toiba or carried out by Hamas are illegal and unjustified.
“We must affirm the right of any nation to defend itself and to prevent such horror to repeat itself. No member of this council, no nation in this entire body could or would tolerate the slaughter of its people,” Blinken said.
As the UNSC and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) have repeatedly affirmed, all acts of terrorism are unlawful and unjustifiable. They are unlawful and unjustifiable whether they target people in Nairobi, Bali, Istanbul or Mumbai, New York, or Kibbutz Be’eri, Blinken told the United Nations Security Council. Be it, Boko Haram, ISIS or Al Shabab
This statement came in context of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Israel has announced its intention to continue its military operations until it has dismantled Hamas. The United States of America has also affirmed its stance on terrorism and said that it cannot be tolerated within the United Nations.
He stressed that the Security Council has a responsibility and power to denounce member nations that arm, train and fund Hamas or any other terrorist group that carries out such horrific acts.
