Extremist India at UNSC

United Nation Security Council is the most powerful organ of UN. There’re five permanent and ten non-permanent members (total 15) of the council. The non-permanent members of the UNSC join the council after the voting process in the UN General Assembly through secret balloting. Regardless of whether an election is contested, a country must obtain the votes of two-thirds of the member states present and voting at the General Assembly session to secure a seat on the Council. This means that a minimum of 129 positive votes are required to win a seat if all 193 UN member states are present and voting. . The Security Council is the only UN body that can make legally binding decisions such as imposing sanctions and authorising the use of force. The non-permanent members don’t have the veto power but they can debate on the given agendas. Pakistan has been elected to UNSC seven times. Pakistan always used to the forum for productivity and positive debates on various regional and international issues. Throughout its presence in the vital forum of UN, Pakistan remained impartial and never use the forum for personal and political gains. Pakistan followed the given mandate of UNSC. 

 

On 17 June 2020, India along with Mexico, India, Ireland and Norway have been elected non-permanent members of the UNSC for the period of two years starting from January 2021 to December 2022. Unfortunately, Indian victory has raised eyebrows about the treatment of international community when it comes to give legal shelters to the countries who are continuously violating international laws and conventions regarding human rights. Since the abrogation of Article 370 of Indian constitution on 5 August last year, Indian government imposed worst kind of lockdown and communication blockade in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The people of the Kashmir valley are being denied basic rights and access to internet facilities. Indian Armed Forces have completely circled the area and acting brutally against the innocent people of the valley. 

 

The nationalist designs of Indian government have compelled Kashmiri people to resist against the Indian oppressions. They have no other option except to challenge Indian illegal presence in the valley. Indian actions in the valley are further jeopardizing the regional peace. Indian Armed forces, under the warmongering government in New Delhi, are making this region volatile and more vulnerable. The skirmishes at Line of Control by Indian Armed Forces are testing the patience of Pakistan Army and government. Indian forces are targeting civilians living across the Pakistani side of Line of Control. Despite warnings from Pakistani side not to violate ceasefire, Indian armed forces are showing more aggressions. This time around, they are being punished by Pakistani actions. The Armed Forces are Pakistan replying Indian ceasefire violations in a befitting way and avoid targeting civilian population residing in Indian side of Line of Control. 

 

This is the only one example of aggression and violating ceasefire agreement. Since the arrival of PM Modi in Indian power corridors, Indian Armed Forces have become political entity of BJP’s government. PM Modi along with other hawkish and nationalist Hindus of BJP using the Armed Forces for their political gains by deteriorating the regional peace. In a recent past, Indian government initiated another illegal action by declaring the area of Nepal’s territory as part of its country. Indian government issued a map of the country in which it included Nepal’s Lipulak and Kala Pani Areas as part of Indian soil. Nepali government protested against the Indian move by terming it unilateral and illegal. After the Indian move, Indo-Nepal border clash started in which a few Indian people were killed due to the Nepali Army’s firing while protecting its border. 

 

In addition to this, Indian Armed forces also got in spat with Chinese Army in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley. But, here, Indian forces got faced huge embarrassment when Chinese Army killed 20 soldiers of Indian Army including one commanding officer Colonel Santosh Babu. Indian forces initiated territorial dispute with Chinese by starting illegal construction at the disputed sites. China warned India many times and hence attacked Indian soldiers in defence. With Bangladesh, Indian Border Security Forces known as BSF has also had border dispute in recent past. Both forces were engaged in violent clash that left many casualties.

 

This is what India is actually. Its forces are initiating border skirmishes with other states. Indian forces are provoking them at various locations. At a times when India is behaving irresponsible, its entry to UNSC raised the alarm bells. India may use the forum for political interests. Here the responsibility lies with the permanent members of the UNSC to keep check on Indian activities and stop Indian government for personal likes and dislikes. The permanent members of UNSC must stand firm while dealing with the international issues. 

India has a worst track record of human rights especially when it comes to deal with the minorities living across the country. The UN and its organs must press the authorities in the New Delhi to ensure the rights for minorities. The rise of nationalist Hindu ideology in India is threat to the religious freedom in the country. International community must have asked Indian government to ensure the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir before voting for the country. Overwhelming majority at the UNSC elections is likely to strengthen the Indian claims of Human rights violations. It will also allow the nationalist elements within the Indian government to expand their nationalist ideology. The time will tell us how India politicize the vital organ of UNSC. Pakistani government rightly said that India’s track record on human rights didn’t allow the country to sit at the floor of UNSC.  At the I would say that by provoking all of its neighbours, India is knocking the door for worst ever border clashes in the region which will have dire consequences for the entire region in general and world in particular.