External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the UN debate has become polarised in a statement on the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. (IMAGE: PTI)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that “all is not well” within the United Nations and that the organisation’s decisions no longer reflect the priorities of the world.

“In an era of conflict, there is a need for peace and this is what the postage stamp represents. The world is going through difficult times. All is not well with the UN,” Jaishankar said.

Speaking at an event to launch a postage stamp marking the UN’s 80th anniversary, the Union Minister said debates within the global body have become increasingly polarised and disconnected from ground realities.

His comments come weeks after Switzerland, which currently chairs the UN Human Rights Commission, urged India to take “effective measures” to protect minorities and uphold freedom of expression and media rights.

India had hit back, advising Switzerland to first address its own internal challenges, including “racism, systematic discrimination and xenophobia”.

Jaishankar’s remarks also come against the backdrop of Pakistan repeatedly attempting to hijack UN discussions to spread falsehoods on Kashmir — even as it faces global condemnation for the massacre of civilians in Pahalgam.

As recently as Thursday, Pakistani diplomats once again tried to portray terrorists as “freedom fighters”, drawing a sharp response from the Indian delegation.

Calling for “meaningful reform” within the UN, Jaishankar said that while reform is urgently needed, “the reform process itself is being used to block change”.

India and several major economies like Brazil as well as the African Union are calling for reforms to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). India’s bids to designate terrorists as global terrorists have often faced veto from permanent members like China.

“India has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations and will continue to be so, (but) the UN’s decisions neither reflect its membership nor global priorities”.

“Meaningful reform in the UN is being blocked by using the reform process itself,” Jaishankar added.