Harivansh Rejects Pakistan’s Kashmir Narrative at IPU Assembly in Tanzania
Indian Parliamentary Delegation Responds to Pakistan at Global Forum
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh strongly defended India’s position on Jammu and Kashmir during the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Arusha, Tanzania, after Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue at the international parliamentary gathering.
Speaking during India’s right of reply, Harivansh objected to what he described as an attempt to bring a bilateral and politically sensitive issue into a forum focused on parliamentary cooperation and global concerns. He said Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh would continue to be regarded by India as integral parts of the country.
The exchange comes as Indian and Pakistani representatives continue to present sharply different positions on Kashmir at international platforms. India has consistently rejected what it considers external interference in matters relating to Jammu and Kashmir.
Harivansh Challenges Pakistan’s Position
Harivansh argued that references to Kashmir by the Pakistani delegation were inappropriate in the context of the IPU meeting. He accused Pakistan of repeatedly using international forums to advance allegations against India.
He also reiterated India’s position that the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India was legally valid and irreversible. At the same time, he accused Pakistan of occupying territory that India considers its own and called for Pakistan to vacate those areas.
The comments represent a continuation of New Delhi’s established diplomatic position on the Kashmir dispute. India has maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country, while Pakistan continues to raise the issue internationally.
The significance of Harivansh’s remarks therefore lies not in a change in India’s policy, but in the fact that the position was stated at a major gathering of lawmakers from around the world.
India Highlights Elections and Democratic Participation
An important part of Harivansh’s response focused on democratic participation in Jammu and Kashmir.
He referred to voter participation in the 2024 Lok Sabha and Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections as evidence of political engagement in the Union Territory. According to figures cited in the response, voter turnout in the general election was 58.5 per cent, described as the highest in 35 years, while turnout in the Assembly elections was 63 per cent.
These figures were used to underline India's argument that democratic institutions and political participation are continuing in Jammu and Kashmir.
The reference to elections also gives the diplomatic argument a broader context. Rather than discussing Kashmir only through the lens of territorial claims, the Indian side sought to point to electoral participation and governance as indicators of developments on the ground.
Kashmir Issue Remains a Major India-Pakistan Disagreement
Jammu and Kashmir has remained one of the most contentious issues between India and Pakistan for decades. Both countries have maintained competing territorial claims, while India has repeatedly opposed attempts to internationalise what it regards as a bilateral or internal matter.
India's diplomatic responses to references to Kashmir have become particularly firm in recent years. In September 2026, for example, the Ministry of External Affairs rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir in an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation communiqué and said the organisation had no standing to comment on matters India considers internal.
Harivansh's remarks at the IPU therefore fit into a wider pattern of India's diplomatic messaging rather than representing an isolated statement.
Why the IPU Platform Matters
The 153rd IPU Assembly is taking place in Arusha from October 5 to 9, 2026. The event brings together parliamentarians from different countries for discussions covering governance, democracy, international security, development and other global issues. The central theme of this year's assembly is strengthening good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities.
India's participation is broader than the Kashmir discussion. The Indian parliamentary delegation is taking part in debates and meetings concerning areas such as democracy and human rights, counter-terrorism, artificial intelligence, climate change, maritime security, sustainable development and women's participation.
This makes the exchange over Kashmir one element of a much wider parliamentary diplomatic engagement.
India Uses Parliamentary Diplomacy to Present Its Position
Harivansh is leading the Indian parliamentary delegation at the assembly. Members of the delegation have also held bilateral meetings with foreign parliamentary leaders and participated in IPU committees and forums.
The Indian delegation's presence reflects the increasing importance of parliamentary diplomacy alongside traditional government-to-government diplomatic channels. International parliamentary organisations provide politicians and lawmakers an opportunity to directly present their country's position, build relationships and respond to statements made by representatives of other countries.
In this case, the right-of-reply mechanism allowed India to directly challenge Pakistan's references to Kashmir before an international parliamentary audience.
What the Latest Exchange Means
Harivansh's statement does not indicate a new Indian policy on Jammu and Kashmir. Instead, it reinforces India's existing position while demonstrating that New Delhi intends to respond whenever Kashmir is raised in international parliamentary forums.
For Pakistan, raising Kashmir internationally remains part of its broader diplomatic approach. For India, resisting such references and emphasising democratic participation in Jammu and Kashmir remains a central part of its response.
The latest exchange also demonstrates how Kashmir continues to influence India-Pakistan relations well beyond their immediate bilateral interactions. Even at forums primarily dedicated to governance, development and parliamentary cooperation, the issue can quickly become a point of diplomatic confrontation.
As the IPU Assembly continues in Tanzania, India's delegation is expected to remain engaged on a wide range of international issues. The Kashmir exchange, however, has once again highlighted the deep and continuing disagreement between New Delhi and Islamabad over the region and the competing narratives that both sides continue to present before international audiences.
