Arise Times
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made a scathing address at the Raisina Dialogue 2025, questioning the international order and condemning Western countries for their approach to the Kashmir conflict. In the session “Thrones and Thorns: Defending the Integrity of Nations,” Jaishankar highlighted India’s long-standing conflict with Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir and criticized the United Nations (UN) for not being able to distinguish between aggressors and victims.
Jaishankar’s Assertion on Kashmir
Jaishankar called the Kashmir dispute the “longest-standing illegal occupation” after World War II, alluding to Pakistan’s invasion of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947. He contended that the UN, rather than condemning Pakistan’s aggression, unfairly equated the aggressor and the victim.
Post-World War II, the oldest illegal occupation and presence of a territory by another nation involves India in Kashmir. We approached the UN. What was an invasion was converted into a dispute. The victim and the aggressor were placed on an equal footing,” he said, pointing to what he sees as a failure of international institutions to respond to India’s grievances.
Identifying the ‘Culpable Parties’
Jaishankar did not shy away from naming certain countries, mentioning the UK, Canada, Belgium, Australia, and the United States as “culpable parties” who contributed to framing the Kashmir problem in a manner prejudicial to India.
He accused Western powers of being selective in their approach to world conflicts and interventions. “We talk today about political interference. When the West ventures abroad, it’s in pursuit of democratic freedoms. When other nations venture into the West, it appears to have a very malign intention,” he said, pointing to what he believes is hypocrisy in the use of political principles.
The Need for Fairness in the Global Order
Jaishankar also touched upon the importance of consistency and fairness in international governance, positing that an effective international order cannot be maintained without basic equity.
“If we have to have an order, there has to be fairness… We want a strong UN, but a strong UN needs a fair UN… A strong global order has to have some basic consistency of standards,” he said, calling for a more equitable and balanced international system.
Selective Global Responses to Political Crises
Another important aspect brought up by Jaishankar was the selective global reactions to political upheavals in different parts of the world. He noted that while Myanmar’s military coups were universally condemned, such incidents in other parts of the world were either ignored or tolerated.
“We have military coups to the east of us in Myanmar, they’re a no-no. We get them even more frequently to the West where it’s apparently okay. It makes sense to inspect the operations of the world these past eight decades and be realistic about it,” he said, casting doubt over the neutrality of international power hierarchies.
The Shifting Global Power Order
Jaishankar concluded by emphasizing that the power dynamics and equities of the world have changed, and there is a need to shift global discourse. He urged a revamp of old paradigms that fail to capture the realities of today.
“We have to realize today that the balances and the shareholdings in the world have shifted. We require a different conversation. We require a different order,” he stressed, reflecting India’s call for a reformed international order that is more representative of emerging powers.
Conclusion
Jaishankar’s address at the Raisina Dialogue 2025 was a strong criticism of the global governance system, the UN’s role, and the alleged double standards of Western countries. His appeal for a more balanced and even global system finds resonance with India’s greater effort towards international institution reforms. As India insists on asserting itself in the global arena, such speeches signal a more confident foreign policy approach seeking to question narratives of the past and push for a more just global system. The next few years will decide if such calls for reform will result in concrete changes to the global order.
