India has firmly rejected and condemned the "baseless" remarks on Kashmir made by a Pakistani diplomat during a UN Security Council debate on children and armed conflict, describing it as another routine attempt to divert attention from the "grave violations" against children that persist in Pakistan.
“Let me respond briefly in the interest of time to remarks, which were obviously politically motivated and unfounded, made by one representative against my country. I categorically dismiss and condemn these baseless remarks with the contempt they deserve," stated Ambassador R. Ravindra, Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN, on Wednesday.
He made these comments while delivering a statement at the UN Security Council’s open debate on Children and Armed Conflict.
Ravindra asserted that this is “nothing but another habitual attempt to divert attention from the grave violations against children that continue unabated in his own country,” as highlighted in this year’s report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on children and armed conflict.
“As far as Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are concerned they were, are and always will be an integral and inalienable part of India, irrespective of what this particular representative or his country believes or wishes,” Ravindra said.
India’s strong response came after Pakistan’s envoy at the UN, Munir Akram, extensively discussed Jammu and Kashmir in his remarks to the Council during the open debate on Children and Armed Conflict.
The Secretary-General’s report on Children and Armed Conflict, covering the period from January to December 2023, notes that in Pakistan, a total of 78 grave violations against 73 children (13 boys, 7 girls, 53 sex unknown) were reported. Children (73) were reportedly killed (40) and maimed (33) by unidentified armed elements (72), and in one case, the casualty was claimed by Islamic State (1). Casualties were caused by explosive ordnance (66) and gunshots (7). Five attacks on schools, including against protected persons in relation to schools, were reported.
“I am concerned about the rise in reported grave violations, in particular the killing and maiming of children and attacks against schools, and about incidents in the border areas with Afghanistan,” the UN chief said in his comments about Pakistan in the report.
This was the second consecutive day that Munir raised the issue of Kashmir in his remarks at the UN, prompting a strong retort from India. On Tuesday, India slammed Pakistan for its "baseless and deceitful narratives" after Munir referenced Kashmir in the UN General Assembly.
Pakistan frequently raises the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at various UN platforms, regardless of the subject matter or theme of the forum, and fails to garner any support or traction.
India has consistently rejected Pakistan’s attempts to raise the Kashmir issue at international forums, asserting that the "Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh have been, are, and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India."
Read also | India Condemns Pakistan's Kashmir Agenda as ‘baseless, deceitful’
Read also | Julian Assange Leaves Court a Free Man After Legal Resolution
