Harsh Vardhan Shringla in Parliament: 'India among few to use UN Charter for self-defence'

NEW DELHI: India is one of the few nations that have used Article 51 of the UN Charter, which outlines the right of a nation to act in self-defence, former foreign secretary and nominated Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Tuesday, highlighting that India had struck in the "heart" of Pakistan - Muridke & Bahawalpur - during Operation Sindoor.

Participating in discussion on military operation, Shringla said India carried out a precise, highly calibrated and intelligence-driven strike on terror hubs, adding that it was targeted at entities that have been unleashing terrorism against India.

"As per international law, we had the right to go after terrorists. Article 51 of UN Charter states that a country has right to self-defence and today that is being increasingly interpreted, as those non-state actors that indulge in terror activities in another sovereign state can also come under this act of self-defence and India has exercised self defence," he said.

Shringla said few countries have dared to do so, citing the example of US using Article 51 of UN Charter in its attacks against Taliban, ISIS. India used the same to eliminate terror bases working against it, in the heart of Pakistan. He said that among the over 100 killed in the operation, there were some on UN Security Council's list of most wanted terrorists.