India Accuses Pakistan of State-Sponsored Terrorism at UN, Reaffirms Jammu and Kashmir's Integral Status

NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday once again hit out at Pakistan over its continued use of crossborder terrorism, accusing Islamabad of employing terrorism as a "tool of state policy". New Delhi also reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir "has always been, is, and will remain" an integral and inalienable part of India. The remarks were made by India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, during the High-Level Open Debate of the UN Security Council on "Natural Resources Governance: the Foundation of Peace, Security and Prosperity." Responding to Pakistan's intervention at the debate, Harish accused Islamabad of "misusing" the forum to "peddle its false narrative." "It was not our intention to bring other issues in this forum, but my delegation is compelled to respond to Pakistan, as it has chosen to misuse today's discussion to peddle its false narrative," the Indian envoy said. "For the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, it has always been, is, and will remain an integral and inalienable part of India. This is the constitutional and legal reality that Pakistan deliberately chooses to ignore." Harish also asserted that Pakistan's illegal occupation of Indian territory remained the only unresolved issue concerning Jammu and Kashmir. "The only outstanding issue with regard to Jammu and Kashmir is the naked aggression and illegal occupation of India's sovereign territory by Pakistan." On the Indus Water Treaty, the Indian envoy reiterated New Delhi's longstanding position, saying Pakistan's support for crossborder terrorism had eroded the trust necessary for bilateral cooperation. "Our position on the Indus Water Treaty remains clear and consistent. Cooperation on the basis of mutual trust and goodwill cannot be expected when crossborder terrorism is regularly deployed as an instrument of State policy." In his concluding statement at UN, Harish urged Pakistan to focus on addressing its own domestic challenges instead of targeting India. "Instead of pointing fingers at India, Pakistan would serve itself and its people far better by putting its own house in order."