Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, on Monday said that India’s actions in Jammu and Kashmir and its unilateral conduct on regional agreements were undermining sustainable peace and security in South Asia.
Addressing the Council, Ambassador Iftikhar accused India of committing atrocities against Kashmiris in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, stating that such actions posed a serious threat to lasting peace in the region. He also described India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty as a “blatant violation of international law,” arguing that it further destabilizes regional security.
Emphasizing the importance of legal norms, the Pakistani envoy said the rule of law is fundamental to peace, justice, and collective security. He cautioned that respect for international law is facing a severe test, noting that unilateral actions by states have eroded trust in the international legal system.
“When law bows to power or expediency, instability deepens,” Ambassador Iftikhar told the Council, warning that such practices allow conflicts to take deeper root and threaten peaceful coexistence. He added that attempts to normalize unilateral actions weaken the foundations of collective security.
Referring to Pakistan’s own experience, the ambassador said that India committed aggression last year by violating Pakistan’s sovereignty. He stated that Pakistan responded by exercising its right to self-defense in a “responsible, cautious, and proportionate manner,” making it clear that coercion in any form is unacceptable.
Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Iftikhar stressed that respect for international law must remain the sole standard governing relations among states, calling on the international community to uphold legal principles to preserve global and regional peace.
