‘J&K is, was and will remain an integral part of India’: Sudhanshu Trivedi slams Pakistan at the UN | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: India has condemned Pakistan for its repeated attempts to ‘derail’ United Nations discussions by invoking Jammu and Kashmir during a debate on peacekeeping operations.
Representing India at the UN Special Political and Decolonization Commission (Fourth) on Friday, Sudhanshu Trivedia member of the Rajya Sabha and the national spokesperson of the BJP, accused Pakistan of spreading “rhetoric and lies” to mislead the forum.
“India is choosing its right to respond in response to the comments of Pakistan, which has once again made an attempt to divert this august body from its agenda,” Trivedi said.
Reiterating India’s strong position on Jammu and Kashmir, he pointed out that the Union Territory “was, is and will remain an integral part of India”, adding that recent democratic elections in the region underscore its rightful place within India. Trivedi urged Pakistan to “refrain from such rhetoric” which, he stressed, “would not change the facts”.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir recently exercised their democratic and suffrage rights and elected a new government. Pakistan should refrain from such rhetoric and untruths as it will not change the facts,” Trivedi said.
India’s response followed comments from Pakistan’s representative, who referred to the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), originally established to monitor ceasefire violations along the Line of Control ( LoC). India claims that UNMOGIP is now obsolete as the Simla Agreement and the creation of the LoC have made its mandate irrelevant.

After his speech, Trivedi took to social media to reiterate his message, accusing Pakistan of shifting focus from substantive discussions on peacekeeping to promote “unnecessary mention” of Kashmir. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “strong foreign policy” for strengthening India’s position on the world stage.
As part of a 12-member Indian parliamentary delegation to the UN, Trivedi also delivered a broader speech on the challenges faced UN peacekeeping. Highlighting India’s contributions as the largest cumulative contribution of troops, he noted that current conflicts are becoming increasingly complex and require “realistic mandates” tailored to the specific socio-political circumstances of each conflict.
Reflecting on the dangers faced by peacekeepers, Trivedi noted an increase in asymmetric threats, including landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), underscoring India’s case for the safety and security of peacekeepers. He emphasized the importance of accountability, stating that “perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers must be brought to justice.”
To address limited resources, Trivedi argued that redundant peacekeeping missions often persist due to political agendas, and urged the UN to build exit strategies into peacekeeping missions from the start. India, he affirmed, remains committed to international peacekeeping and views it as a mission committed to the cause of humanity.
He described peacekeeping as “a mission of utmost dedication” and called for appropriate action to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives in the service of global peace.