India Tells Pakistan not to Indulge in Polemics

India asks the new government in Pakistan to not to indulge in ‘polemics’. This reaction from India to its neighbouring nation came after the latter raked up the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council. Rather, India asked Pakistan to work towards building a South Asian region free of terror and violence. By speaking about the new government in Pakistan, the Indian ambassador directly referred to the newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan and the government formed by his party.

Speaking on this matter, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said, "I take this opportunity to remind - Pakistan - the one isolated delegation that made unwarranted references to an integral part of India, that pacific settlement requires pacific intent in thinking and Pacific content in action."

India had to speak up in this issue following Pakistan's Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi’s attempt at raking up the Kashmir issue. The Indian ambassador also said that Pakistan is "regurgitating a failed approach, which has long been rejected, is neither reflective of pacific intent nor a display of Pacific content."

Maleeha Lodhi tried to put up the Kashmir issue in the United Nations Council by saying the "Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains a long-standing issue." She also brought in the resolutions taken by the Security Council like the UN Commission on India and Pakistan (UNCIP), the deployment of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) and the appointment of UN representatives. Adding to this context, Lodhi stated, "Sadly, these resolutions remain unimplemented to date. The international community cannot succeed in its efforts to strengthen conflict prevention and promote pacific dispute settlement if the Security Council's own resolutions are held in abeyance, by some. What is, at stake is both the Council's credibility as well as the objective of durable peace in our region. We must not fail these tests."

As a counter-reply to what the Pakistan ambassador said, Akbaruddin said that mediation on the matter of peace settlement between the two nations is based on the interest, consent and commitment by all parties as then only a positive and fruitful peaceful settlement is possible.