India strongly criticized Pakistan on Friday for making an “unjustified” reference to Jammu and Kashmir during a United Nations General Assembly session. New Delhi denounced its neighbor’s “fanatical mindset” and history of “bigotry,” reaffirming that the Union Territory has always been an integral part of India.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador P. Harish, dismissed Pakistan’s remarks, asserting that such claims would neither validate its position nor justify its involvement in cross-border terrorism.

“As is their habit, Pakistan’s former foreign secretary today made an unjustified reference to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” Harish stated during an informal plenary session to mark the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

He further emphasized that Pakistan’s repeated assertions would not alter the reality that Jammu and Kashmir “was, is, and will always be an integral part of India.”

India’s response came after former Pakistani foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua mentioned Jammu and Kashmir in her address at the meeting.