India warns Pakistan of 'consequences' for cross-border terrorism, highlights right to defend

India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish, pulled up Pakistan at the UN Security Council, accusing Islamabad of continuing cross-border terrorism and warning it has to accept that it would face consequences for sponsoring terror activities against New Delhi.

Harish made the remarks during the UN Security Council open debate on “Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter and Strengthening the UN-Centred International System” on Tuesday.

Also read: India rejects China-Pakistan remarks on J&K, calls Kashmir & Ladakh 'integral parts' of country


Addressing the UNSC, Harish said Pakistan had consistently harboured and supported terrorism, violent extremism, and anti-India activities since its creation. “Pakistan will have to accept that there are consequences to its sponsorship of cross-border terrorism,” he said. “Pakistan's harnessing of the malevolent forces of terrorism, religious extremism, violent radicalism, and anti-India rhetoric has continued unabated since its creation."

He also slammed Pakistan’s long standing doctrine of “bleeding India with a thousand cuts,” saying it exposed Islamabad’s hollow commitment to the UN Charter.

“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.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly rejected remarks in a joint statement by China and Pakistan, asserting that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of the country. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s position was clear and well known to both countries.

“India categorically rejects unwarranted references to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the Joint Statement between China and Pakistan,” said Jaiswal.

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Jaiswal also objected to references concerning the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), parts of which passes through territory claimed by New Delhi.

“We resolutely oppose and reject any moves by other countries to reinforce or legitimise Pakistan’s illegal and forcible occupation of these territories, impinging on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.

Jaiswal said India had conveyed its concerns to both Pakistani and Chinese authorities on several occasions.

At the UN debate, Harish also said independent India began its journey while facing cross-border aggression from Pakistan over territories that had legally and irrevocably acceded to the former.

He also spoke about resistance to long-pending reforms of the UNSC, cautioning that the body faces a growing crisis of credibility since its structure remains rooted in the geopolitical realities of 1945.

“The UN Security Council must be a living instrument, not a fossil,” he said, warning that failure to adapt would further erode the Council’s authority, legitimacy, and effectiveness.

He also expressed concern over growing divisions within the Security Council, particularly among its veto-wielding permanent members, saying such disunity had weakened the body’s effectiveness in addressing global crises.