India, March 25 -- Hitting back at Pakistan for bringing up the Jammu and Kashmir issue once again in the United Nations, India on Tuesday said the neighbouring country must vacate the territory which it "continues to illegally occupy".

"Pakistan continues to illegally occupy the territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which it must vacate. We would advise Pakistan not to try to divert the attention of this forum to drive their parochial and divisive agenda. India will refrain from exercising a more elaborate Right of Reply," he added.

Harish's response comes after Syed Tariq Fatemi, a special assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister, had raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at the UN.

Last month, India called Pakistan a "failed state" which...