Nuclear weapons must not be treated as ‘routine instruments of statecraft’: India slams Pak at UN

India denounced Pakistan at the United Nations on Friday, emphasizing that nuclear weapons should not be treated as ordinary tools of diplomacy. Asserting that New Delhi would not succumb to nuclear intimidation, India's Permanent Representative at the UN, Anmol Sher Singh Bedi, delivered the country's Right of Reply following Pakistan's remarks on the Jammu and Kashmir issue.

Bedi maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and unchangeable part of India, calling for the return of these illegally occupied territories. He affirmed India's commitment to peace and its aversion to conflict, adding that peace is rarely achieved without accountability for reckless actions. Bedi emphasized that India's nuclear capabilities are defensive and not directed against any specific state, stating that concerns about escalation should be judged by conduct over time.

He pointed out that Pakistan's tactics often lead to a pattern of provocation, denial, and appeals for restraint, which he believes perpetuates instability. Bedi reiterated that India will respond to terrorist attacks, will not yield to nuclear blackmail, and will hold accountable those who sponsor terrorism. He also highlighted India's adherence to the Indus Waters Treaty and its stance against nuclear proliferation, urging all states to exercise vigilance in avoiding the transfer of nuclear weapons and capabilities.