India has criticized Pakistan for using its position as co-chair to politicize a UN forum instead of maintaining impartiality. India’s Permanent Representative P Harish emphasized that the status of Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter for India and will always remain so. He expressed disappointment that the co-chair, expected to be fair, chose to bring politics into the forum.
The meeting, titled “Bridging the Implementation Gap: Security Council Resolutions and Maintenance of International Peace and Security,” was co-hosted by China and Pakistan, with their ambassadors serving as co-chairs. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad raised the Kashmir issue during the meeting, a topic consistently highlighted by Pakistan.
India pointed out that while Pakistan criticizes India, it fails to comply with Council resolutions itself. Pakistan disregarded Resolution 47 from April 1948, which called for the withdrawal of its forces and civilians from the Kashmir regions it had invaded. The areas under Pakistan’s illegal occupation have seen unrest, with Islamabad’s security forces resorting to violent suppression, resulting in casualties.
The forum, known as an Arria Formula meeting, is an informal gathering involving interested nations, officials, organizations, and individuals. India suggested a review of the UN Security Council’s mandate in line with the ongoing UN80 process aimed at enhancing the organization’s effectiveness in its 80th year.
India stressed the need to reconsider the UN Charter’s provisions for mediation and negotiations to resolve disputes that threaten international peace and security. Harish highlighted the need to update mediation frameworks, citing the prolonged conflict in Palestine as an example of the challenges in achieving a resolution. He emphasized the importance of adapting mediation interventions to changing circumstances for effective conflict resolution.
