NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council, accusing Islamabad of sponsoring cross-border terrorism and violating the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity through decades of aggression against India.Speaking at the UNSC Open Debate on upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and strengthening the UN-centred international system, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, said Pakistan’s remarks at the forum were “baseless and unwarranted”.“Mr. President, I am compelled to respond to baseless and unwarranted remarks made by Pakistan today. India would like to set the facts straight. Independent India began its life battling with cross border aggression by Pakistan which coveted Indian territories that had become a part of India as a result of their complete legal and irrevocable accession,” Harish said. He accused Pakistan of repeatedly violating the UN Charter through wars and support for terrorism.“Pakistan, by waging several wars and inflicting unprovoked aggression against India and through its continued sponsorship of cross border terrorism, has violated the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity and peaceful coexistence,” he said. Harish also said Pakistan’s “doctrine of bleeding India by a thousand cuts” exposed what he called its “hollow rhetoric” on commitment to the UN Charter. “The use of cross border terrorism by Pakistan and its doctrine of bleeding India by a thousand cuts exposes its hollow rhetoric and the rhetoric of commitment to the UN Charter. India has every right to defend itself from such cross border terrorism. Pakistan will have to accept that there are consequences to its sponsorship of cross border terrorism,” he said.The Indian envoy further accused Pakistan of continuing to back “terrorism, religious extremism, violent radicalism and anti India rhetoric”.“Pakistan’s harnessing of the malevolent forces of terrorism, religious extremism, violent radicalism and anti India rhetoric has continued unabated since its creation. The facts in this regard are on public record and need no further elucidation. Pakistan must credibly and irrevocably end its support for all forms of terrorism,” he added.During his address, Harish also called for urgent reforms in the United Nations Security Council, saying the current structure no longer reflects present-day geopolitical realities.“A critical challenge the UN faces today is one of double standards. These are characterized not only by inconsistent application of principles in different situations, but also by inconsistency between words and actions,” he said.“The UN Security Council architecture that is frozen in time must make way for purposeful reform reflecting contemporary geo-political realities. Sacrifices made in the Second World War alone cannot justify an archaic and antiquated design for perpetuity,” Harish added.He further argued that expanding only the elected category of membership while shielding permanent members from reform would weaken the credibility of the UN system.“We must address and expand the permanent category of membership which alone will change the decision-making process of this Council. Not adapting to changed circumstances would further diminish the authority, credibility, legitimacy and effectiveness of the UN Security Council,” he said.
