Attacker, victim put on par: Jaishankar on Kashmir

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday called for an audit of the United Nations' (UN) functioning, emphasising the need for a “fair UN.” He cited the example of 1947, when Pakistan’s invasion of Kashmir was framed as a “dispute” at the UN.

Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, Jaishankar stated, “We need an international order.”

He highlighted the inconsistencies in the way the UN operates, noting that after the World War II (1939-1945), “the longest-standing illegal occupation of a territory by another country was in India, in Kashmir.”

Citing Pakistan's illegal occupation of Kashmir, the minister said the “attacker” and the “victim” were put on par. He named the UK, Canada, Belgium, Australia, and the United States for their roles in framing the issue this way at the UN.

The External Affairs Minister stressed that the global order established by the UN after the World War II is a product of its time. “If you were at the receiving end of some of the rules or the application of those rules, you had a disadvantage,” he said.

“It is important to audit the work of the UN over the last eight decades. Be honest and understand that the 'shareholdings' of the world have changed. We need a different conversation. We need a different order,” Jaishankar added.

He reiterated the need for a fair UN, emphasising that the global order must have basic consistency. He cited the example of Myanmar’s military coup, calling it “not okay.” Without naming Pakistan, he noted, “We have military coups regularly to our west, but that is okay.”

Jaishankar also discussed how the existing order is sometimes misused by certain countries. “I would argue that any country that takes risks, adopts extreme positions, or tests the system will use this order to its advantage,” he said.

While not directly naming Pakistan, Jaishankar pointed out that smaller neighbors in India’s vicinity have also “done a good job of being risky.”

He pointed out how the global order is applied differently to various countries, citing the example of Afghanistan. The same Taliban that was welcomed in Doha and Oslo for talks and deemed “okay” is now being criticised for “not doing good things.”

“So, what was discussed in Doha and Oslo?” Jaishankar questioned.