United Nations: India on Monday hit out at Pakistan for making an "unwarranted" reference to Jammu and Kashmir at the UN, asserting that the state was an integral part of the country.
In an apparent reference to remarks by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Jammu and Kashmir at the UN General Assembly last week, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said India's principled position on the issue has been consistent and is well known.
Krishna also asserted that people of Jammu and Kashmir have "reaffirmed" their destiny repeatedly through India's "well-established democratic processes".
"An unwarranted reference has been made to Jammu and Kashmir from this podium. Our principled position on the issue has been consistent and is well known," Krishna said in his address to the UN General Assembly.
"The people of Jammu and Kashmir have chosen and reaffirmed their destiny repeatedly through India's well-established democratic processes. We wish to make it abundantly clear that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India," he said.
Zardari in his address to the UN General Assembly last week raked up the issue of Kashmir, saying that "Kashmir remains a symbol of failures, rather than strengths of the UN system".
Noting that India remains committed to achieving a nuclear weapons-free world, Krishna said the principles of the Rajiv Gandhi Action Plan of 1988 for achieving nuclear disarmament in a time-bound, non-discriminatory and phased manner remains relevant even after more than two decades.
In the backdrop of the growing problem of piracy in international waters, Krishna said India is gravely concerned by the menace of piracy and armed robbery at sea.
He noted that apart from major economic and commercial consequences, the "scourge" of piracy has serious humanitarian implications for the large number of seafarers held hostage by the pirates.
"The need of the hour is once again concerted international action, under the UN auspices, with special attention being paid to address the welfare of seafarers and their families," he said. India termed peacekeeping and disarmament as among the most unique pursuits of the UN. However, inadequate resources carry the risk of impeding peacekeeping operations in the current environment, Krishna said.
"The challenge before the international community today is to ensure that UN peacekeeping is adequately resourced and enabled to meet the realities of today, including in post-conflict and peace building contexts," he said.
"In this regard, we are hopeful that progress will be made in all outstanding issues between Sudan and South Sudan," Krishna added.
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