New York: India on Wednesday (US local time) strongly criticised Pakistan for using cross-border terrorism as a "tool of state policy" and reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir has always been, and will continue to be, an integral and inalienable part of India.

The remarks were made by India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, during the High-Level Open Debate of the UN Security Council on "Natural Resources Governance: the Foundation of Peace, Security and Prosperity."

Responding to Pakistan's intervention at the meeting, Harish accused Islamabad of exploiting the forum to spread what he described as a false narrative on Kashmir.

"It was not our intention to bring other issues in this forum, but my delegation is compelled to respond to Pakistan, as it has chosen to misuse today's discussion to peddle its false narrative, " the Indian envoy said in his address.

Reiterating India's long-standing position on Jammu and Kashmir, he asserted:

"For the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, it has always been, is, and will remain an integral and inalienable part of India. This is the constitutional and legal reality that Pakistan deliberately chooses to ignore."

Harish also alleged that the primary unresolved issue concerning Jammu and Kashmir was Pakistan's continued occupation of Indian territory.

"The only outstanding issue with regard to Jammu and Kashmir is the naked aggression and illegal occupation of India's sovereign territory by Pakistan."

Addressing the Indus Water Treaty, the Indian envoy said New Delhi's stand remained unchanged, stressing that meaningful cooperation could not exist in the absence of trust while terrorism continued to be supported across the border.

"Our position on the Indus Water Treaty remains clear and consistent. Cooperation on the basis of mutual trust and goodwill cannot be expected when cross-border terrorism is regularly deployed as an instrument of State policy."

In his concluding remarks, Harish urged Pakistan to focus on addressing its domestic challenges instead of criticising India.

"Instead of pointing fingers at India, Pakistan would serve itself and its people far better by putting its own house in order." (ANI)