Fanatical mindset: India gives it back to Pakistan for Kashmir claims at UN

Parvathaneni Harish said that Pakistan's frequent references with regard to Jammu and Kashmir will neither validate their claim, nor justify their practice of cross-border terrorism.

In Short

• India's Permanent Representative to United Nations slams Pakistan
• Parvathaneni Harish praises India's diversity and pluralism at UN
• India advocates against global religious discrimination, says Harish

India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish, on Friday came down heavily on Pakistani claims and statements on Jammu and Kashmir, calling out the neighbouring country's "fanatical mindset" and a "record of bigotry", while stressing that the Union Territory has always been an integral part of India.

While reading out India's statement at the UN meeting to commemorate the International Day to Combat Islamophobia on Friday, Harish said, "As is their habit, the former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan today has made an unjustified reference to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Frequent references will neither validate their claim, nor justify their practice of cross-border terrorism".

"The fanatical mindset of this nation is well known, as also its record of bigotry. Such efforts will not change the reality that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will always be an integral part of India," Harish emphasised.

This came just hours after India on Friday strongly rejected Pakistan's accusations of "sponsoring terrorism," asserting that the world is well aware of where the true "epicentre of global terrorism" lies. The response came in the wake of Islamabad blaming New Delhi for supporting terror activities but stopped short of directly linking it to the recent Balochistan train attack that left 21 passengers dead.

The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations later released a statement lauding Harish's bold and strong speech at the UN session. "Harish highlighted that India is a land of diversity and pluralism. With over 200 million, India is home to one of the largest Muslim populations in the world, and it stands united with the @UN membership in condemning incidents of religious intolerance against Muslims," the statement read.

During his impactful speech, Harish also highlighted that the world today faces a broader challenge of religious discrimination. "Fostering a world free from religious discrimination, hatred and violence has been a way of life for India since time immemorial," Harish said.

He went on to stress that India firmly believes that the path to meaningful progress lies in acknowledging that religiophobia in is various forms of our diverse, global society.

Harish said that it was for this reason that any deliberation on issues of faith by the UN must seek to unite, not divide.