India slams Pakistan at UN over cross-border terrorism; says Kashmir an integral, inalienable part

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Parvathaneni Harish speaks at the UN Security Council. File | Photo credit: ANI

India strongly rejected Pakistan’s remarks at the United Nations, saying cooperation under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) cannot be expected when “cross-border terrorism” is used as an “instrument of state policy”.

India also maintained that Jammu and Kashmir “always was, is and will remain” an integral and inalienable part of the country.

These remarks were made on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) by India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, at the UN Security Council’s High-Level Open Debate on Natural Resource Governance: A Foundation for Peace, Security and Prosperity.

Responding to Pakistan, Mr Parvathaneni said India was forced to respond after Islamabad “misused” the discussion to push a “false narrative”.

“Our stand on the Indus Water Treaty remains clear and consistent. Cooperation based on mutual trust and goodwill cannot be expected when cross-border terrorism is regularly deployed as an instrument of state policy,” Parvathaneni said.

India’s sharp rebuttal came after Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmad accused Delhi of “weaponizing water” by delaying the IWT, calling the move “illegal” and saying it threatened the livelihood of more than 240 million Pakistanis.

Inland Waterways, signed in 1960, is an agreement between India and Pakistan brokered by the World Bank that governs the sharing of waters of the six rivers of the Indus Basin, assigning the eastern rivers to India and the western rivers mostly to Pakistan.

India has suspended inland navigation following the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, saying cooperation under the agreement cannot continue in the face of cross-border terrorism.

“As far as the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, it has always been, is and will remain an integral and inalienable part of India. This is a constitutional and legal reality that Pakistan has deliberately chosen to ignore,” the Indian envoy said while invoking India’s right of reply during an open debate at the UN Security Council.

“The only outstanding issue regarding Jammu and Kashmir is Pakistan’s blatant aggression and illegal occupation of India’s sovereign territory. Instead of pointing fingers at India, Pakistan would serve itself and its people much better if it put its own house in order,” he added.

During his speech, Mr. Parvathaneni said that “the illegal use and trade of natural resources can, in certain situations, contribute to the financing of armed groups and prolong conflict,” but stressed that natural resources should primarily serve as an engine for the development and prosperity of sovereign states.

He also emphasized that the primary responsibility for the governance and management of natural resources rests with sovereign states and called for transparent, accountable and nationally owned governance, along with responsible supply chains, greater transparency and stronger international cooperation to curb illegal exploitation of natural resources.

Published – 23 Jul 2026 13:32 IST