India slams Pakistan for ‘unwarranted remarks’ after FM Bilawal rakes up Kashmir at UNSC

India has also told Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence

India on Friday slammed Pakistan for making "unwarranted remarks" on Jammu and Kashmir, saying comments made by its Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in the UN Security Council are a “pavlovian response” aimed to misuse any forum and every topic to propagate false and malicious propaganda against New Delhi.

India’s response came after Bilawal raked up the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, the abrogation of Article 370 and the recent order by the Delimitation Commission during his remarks at the Council debate.

"Pakistan Representative made unwarranted remarks, which symbolises nothing but a pavlovian response aimed to misuse any forum, and every topic, to propagate false and malicious propaganda against my country,” Counsellor in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Rajesh Parihar said.

India exercised the Right of Reply at the Security Council open debate on ‘Maintenance of International Peace & Security - Conflict and Food Security’ organised by the US, the Council President.

“The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were, are and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. This includes the areas that are under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. No amount of rhetoric and propaganda from any country can deny this fact,” Mr. Parihar asserted.

“The only contribution that Pakistan can make is to stop state sponsored terrorism. As regards to his other remarks, we will treat it with the contempt it deserves,” Mr. Parihar added.

The Pakistan foreign minister, who is on a maiden visit to the U.S., also raked up the Kashmir issue while responding to questions during a press conference in New York on Thursday.