'Desist From Such Falsehood': India Slams Pakistan at UN For Raking Up Kashmir Again

India slammed Pakistan for peddling “falsehood” after it referred to Jammu and Kashmir during a debate on peacekeeping operations in UN.  “India chooses its right to reply in response to comments me by Pakistan that has yet again me an attempt to divert this august body from its nda,” Member of Rajya Sabha and National Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) Sudhanshu Trivedi said.

His remarks came during a debate on peacekeeping operations at Special Political and Decolonization (Fourth Committee) of UN General Assembly here Friday.

Trivedi asserted that Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir “was, is and will remain an integral part of India.  “ people of Jammu and Kashmir have recently exercised ir democratic and electoral rights and elected a new government. Pakistan must desist from such rhetoric and falsehood because it will t alter facts,” Trivedi said.  He ded that out of respect for august members of UN forum, India will refrain from responding to any furr attempts by Pakistan to “abuse” UN procedures.

Trivedi delivered India’s strong response after Pakistani delegate spoke about United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), mandated to supervise ceasefire along Line of Control.

India maintains that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after Simla Agreement and consequent establishment of Line of Control.

Later in a post on X, Trivedi said that during discussions in United Nations on peacekeeping operations, representative from Pakistan, while speaking on subject of UN peacekeeping, “tried to digress subject and unnecessarily mentioned that Pakistan’s involvement with UN peacekeepers started when UN has put up peacekeepers in 1948" in territory Jammu and Kashmir.

Trivedi ded that "taking a sharp exception of this remark,” he exercised Right of Reply and “firmly stated on floor that Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will remain an integral part of India.” “It has also recently gone through a proper democratic election. So august forum of United Nations cant be used in mentioning se s of n-substantive and misleing terms,” Trivedi said.

He ded that this could have been “possible because of firm foreign policies” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi -led government for a “strong and assertive India on international st.” Trivedi is part of a delegation of 12 Members of Parliament from India who are visiting UN for diverse engments at world body.

Earlier, delivering a statement on comprehensive review of peacekeeping operations, Trivedi said that recent conflicts are more challenging, spreing through myri spectrums with volatile and complex settings w ditionally involving terrorism and armed groups who are capitalising on situation to serve ir own objectives.

“India stands at forefront in effort to contribute to peacekeeping efforts as largest cumulative troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations.” He ded that India’s cumulative experience is that in most cases today, conflict resolution lies in sociopolitical domain.

Highlighting importance of “realistic mandates”, he said “we must insist on practical and achievable mandates. Mission failures can be attributed to n-robust mandates.

This rmally is result when we keep troops or police contributing countries out of initial mandate formulation processes which we should avoid.” He furr said that in recent years, peacekeepers have experienced a great level of asymmetric threats ranging from land mines to IEDs. “We cant remain indifferent in this prospect.” Trivedi also underscored that India upholds safety and security of peacekeepers as one of most important aspects of peacekeeping in a complex conflict scenario involving both state and n-state actors.

“It is necessary that perpetrators of crime against peacekeepers need to be brought to justice and accountability for se crimes sought,” he said.

He furr said that redundant peacekeeping missions existing for political purposes are a drain on depleting resources.

"Exit strategies for peacekeeping missions need to be built in from ir very inception,” he said.

India is among largest troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions.

Trivedi also recalled resolution passed by General Assembly on establishing a memorial wall for fallen peacekeepers at a prominent location in UN Hequarters. “re are many challenges in front of us, many decisions to be taken to ensure that memorial wall is established in a manner befitting to its sanctity and its purpose,” he said.

Sudhanshu Trivedi is on a visit to United Nations hequarters, located in New York as a part of Indian Parliamentary Delegation with fellow members of Parliament from various or political parties.

During his visit, he held several interactions with leership at UN. se include interactions with Director of United Nations Counter Terrorism, speaking on UN Peace Keeping Operations, meeting with permanent representatives of various countries, which are benefited from India’s funding to UN and also met members of Indian diaspora. 

“UN peacekeeping is t just an operation, but it is a mission with utmost dedication. UN peacekeepers are making sacrifices t for just nationality, but for whole humanity,” he said. 

(With Inputs From PTI)