India has firmly responded to Pakistan's mention of Kashmir during a recent United Nations Security Council meeting focused on the Israel-Gaza situation. India's Deputy Permanent Representative at the UN, Ambassador R. Ravindra, expressed the country's stance on the matter, emphasizing that any reference to the Union Territories of India, which include Kashmir, would be treated with the contempt it deserves and not dignified with a response.
Earlier, Pakistan's Permanent Representative Munir Akram had mounted a defence of terrorism asserting that when “people living under foreign occupation” resort to it, that is “legitimate” and he tried to mix Kashmir with Palestine.
“There was a remark of habitual nature by one delegation referring to union territories that are integral parts of my country. I will treat these commands with contempt and not dignify them with a response in the interest of time," Ambassador R. Ravindra said.
In the same meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the issue of terrorism, highlighting that all acts of terrorism, regardless of the group responsible, are considered unlawful and unjustifiable. He made it clear that this principle applies universally, whether it is Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based terrorist organization, or Hamas, targeting people in places like Mumbai and Kibbutz Beeri.
Secretary Blinken further emphasized the importance of the right of any nation to defend itself against terrorism and to prevent such acts from recurring. He noted that the Security Council and the UN General Assembly have repeatedly affirmed that all acts of terrorism are unlawful and unjustifiable, regardless of where they occur, the group responsible, or the motives behind them. This includes acts of terrorism carried out by various groups such as ISIS, Boko Haram, Al Shabaab, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hamas.
Secretary Blinken stressed the Security Council's responsibility in denouncing member states that provide support to terrorist organizations like Hamas or any other group that carries out such horrific acts. This statement appeared to be a reference to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, which were conducted by the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba.
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