India has reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir will always be an integral part of the country and strongly condemned Pakistan for its “repeated references” to the region during a United Nations debate on peacekeeping reforms.

Speaking at the UN Security Council, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, called Pakistan’s remarks “unwarranted” and reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir “was, is, and will always be an integral part of India.” He also stated that Pakistan continues to illegally occupy a part of Jammu and Kashmir and must vacate it. He emphasized that such repeated references neither validate Pakistan’s illegal claims nor justify its state-sponsored cross-border terrorism.

India’s Permanent Representative also condemned Pakistan for attempting to “divert attention” from core discussions on peacekeeping.

India has consistently maintained that it seeks normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan but insists that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment free of terror and hostility for meaningful engagement. In a recent podcast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also stated that every attempt to foster peace with Pakistan has been met with hostility and betrayal.