External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar strongly criticised the United Nations for its historical misjudgement in handling the Kashmir issue, calling for a more just and reformed world order.
Speaking at The Raisina Dialogue, an annual global conference held in New Delhi, he highlighted the West’s role in shaping the UN’s approach, which he claimed failed to recognise India as the victim of aggression.
Jaishankar pointed out that India has endured one of the longest-standing illegal occupations of territory since the Second World War. He emphasised that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit and Baltistan, had lawfully acceded to India in 1947. However, Pakistan, through an act of military aggression, invaded and has illegally occupied parts of the region ever since.
During his address, Jaishankar criticised the selective application of international norms regarding sovereignty and territorial integrity. He explained how the UN had erred by treating the aggressor (Pakistan) and the victim (India) as equals in the dispute.
"We all speak of sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is the foundation of global rules. But after the Second World War, the longest-standing illegal occupation of a territory pertains to India—what we saw in Kashmir," he stated.
Jaishankar further elaborated on the historical role of Western nations in shaping the narrative at the UN. "When we went to the UN, what was an invasion was turned into a dispute. The attacker and the victim were placed on the same level. Who were the responsible parties? The UK, Canada, Belgium, Australia, and the USA. So, pardon me, but I have some serious questions about that," he remarked.
Calling for a stronger and more just United Nations, Jaishankar insisted that global rules must be applied consistently. "We need a strong UN, but a strong UN requires fairness. A global order must have consistency in its standards," he asserted.
He argued that a new international system must take into account the changing balance of power. "We need an international order just as we need a domestic order. Without it, those who take extreme positions and test the system will exploit the disorder to their advantage. We have seen this even in our own region," he said.
Jaishankar also highlighted the West’s selective approach to military rule in different regions. Without directly naming Pakistan, he noted, "We have military rule to our east, in Myanmar, which is unacceptable. But to our west, we have an even greater military presence, yet it appears to be acceptable to the West. It is important to review the world’s functioning over the past eight decades and acknowledge that global power structures have changed. We need a different conversation and a different world order."
Jaishankar’s remarks were made during a session titled Thrones and Thorns: Defending the Integrity of Nations at The Raisina Dialogue. His strong stance underscored India's long-standing demand for reforms in global governance institutions, particularly the UN, to reflect present-day realities.
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