Pakistan’s persistent provocation over Jammu and Kashmir, its baseless comparisons to Palestine, and its audacious remarks at international platforms have once again drawn sharp rebuke from India. This time, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s stern response to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s inflammatory remarks serves as a warning—Pakistan must cease its deceitful narrative, or it will face the dire consequences. At the heart of Jaishankar’s powerful address at the United Nations was a clear message: Pakistan has no claim over Jammu and Kashmir and, if anything, should focus on returning Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to India. The rhetoric from Islamabad, rehashing the Kashmir issue year after year, is not only tiresome but is also a futile exercise that reveals Pakistan’s desperation. Despite having been reprimanded by India on multiple occasions, Pakistan has evidently failed to learn from its past misadventures—in 1948, 1965, and 1971, it faced humiliating defeats. Yet, it shamelessly continues to peddle falsehoods about Jammu and Kashmir, refusing to acknowledge that the situation is entirely of its own making. Let us not forget the Pulwama attack in 2019, a cowardly act of terrorism that claimed the lives of 40 Indian CRPF jawans. India responded with decisive action, carrying out surgical strikes that obliterated terrorist camps across the border and later, airstrikes deep inside Pakistani territory. But even in the wake of this bold retaliation, a disgraceful section of India’s opposition, led by the Congress party, chose to question the credibility of the Indian Air Force’s operation, demanding “proof” of the airstrikes. This behavior, unprecedented in any other democracy, is akin to providing a “smoke cover” for the country’s adversaries. Such actions from political leaders, who should be united on matters of national security, reflect a shocking lack of patriotism.
In this context, Pakistan’s rehashing of the Kashmir issue at the UN comes at a particularly absurd time. With Article 370 and 35A—a temporary provision that gave Jammu and Kashmir special status—having been abrogated in 2019, the region is now fully integrated into the Indian Union. Despite the clear progress, some political parties in India, like the National Conference, still make the ludicrous promise of reinstating Article 370. Such rhetoric not only undermines India’s sovereignty but also emboldens Pakistan’s baseless claims. The abrogation has paved the way for the region’s development, stability, and a renewed sense of national integration, something Pakistan conveniently ignores as it attempts to sow discord. Pakistan’s antics, however, are not confined to diplomatic posturing. Its repeated attempts to incite violence in Jammu and Kashmir, through cross-border terrorism and support for pro-Pakistan groups, have been met with swift and decisive action by Indian security forces. The ongoing elections in Jammu and Kashmir, conducted in phases, have been largely peaceful despite Pakistan’s efforts to disrupt the democratic process. The ruling BJP-led NDA government’s confidence in securing victory in these elections is yet another indication that Pakistan’s plans to destabilize the region have utterly failed.
Jaishankar’s statement at the United Nations should not be taken lightly. His remarks, calling for Pakistan to return PoK to India, signal a shift in India’s diplomatic tone—New Delhi is no longer content with merely defending its borders; it is preparing to reclaim what rightfully belongs to it. This is not just a message to Pakistan but also to China, which harbors similar ambitions of destabilizing India’s territorial integrity. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has significantly bolstered its military capabilities, and any misadventures by either neighbor will not end well for them. Since 2014, the Modi government’s foreign policy has been unapologetically “nation-centric,” focusing on safeguarding India’s sovereignty and securing its position on the global stage. India’s rise as an economic and military powerhouse has far outstripped Pakistan’s crumbling state, and New Delhi is in no mood to tolerate Pakistan’s hollow threats, including those concerning its nuclear arsenal. The reality is that Pakistan, teetering on the brink of economic collapse, can ill afford another conflict with India. Should Pakistan continue its policy of cross-border terrorism, it may not only face a military defeat but could also disintegrate from within, its fragile state apparatus crumbling under the weight of its own misgovernance. Pakistan must wake up to the new reality. If it has any hope of rebuilding its economy and becoming a stable nation, it needs to abandon its obsession with Kashmir and end its support for terrorism. The international community, particularly the United States and other Western powers, have little patience left for Pakistan’s double game of professing peace while harboring terror groups. India, on the other hand, has shown remarkable restraint in the face of provocations but has made it clear that there is a limit to its tolerance. The message from India to Pakistan is loud and clear: desist from your nefarious designs, or face the full might of an India that is no longer willing to turn the other cheek. The consequences of continuing down this destructive path could be catastrophic for Pakistan—another conflict could very well lead to its disintegration.
