International Law and State Sovereignty at Risk: Charak Flags Venezuela, Bangladesh, Pakistan Concerns

Jammu: Sushil Singh Charak, Chief Functionary of the Nations Development Association and former Secretary of the International Human Rights Organisation, Jammu and Kashmir (India), has expressed deep concern over long-standing developments and recent global events that, he said, threaten state sovereignty, human rights, and the credibility of international law.

Charak noted that for decades the international community has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter — including respect for state sovereignty, political independence, non-intervention, peaceful settlement of disputes, and protection of human rights. He stressed that these principles form the foundation of the international legal order and are binding on all UN member states, regardless of power or geopolitical influence.

Referring to recent international media reports, Charak highlighted allegations regarding the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by U.S. military forces, followed by claims of external administrative control and judicially mandated interim arrangements. According to reports, including one by AP News, President Maduro was allegedly extracted and flown to the United States as part of a covert operation.

Charak said such actions raise serious questions about compliance with international law and established norms. He emphasized that issues related to governance, security, or transnational crime must be addressed through lawful, multilateral, and judicial mechanisms — not through unilateral military intervention. He added that The Guardian has also reported widespread international concern over the legality of foreign strikes and interventions.

Charak further pointed out what he described as selective and inconsistent global responses to human rights crises. He cited ongoing communal violence and alleged atrocities against religious minorities in Bangladesh, particularly incidents affecting Hindu and other minority communities throughout 2025, which have been documented by multiple human rights groups and media reports. He observed that these incidents have not received proportional international attention or coordinated pressure from global institutions mandated to protect universal human rights.

He also referred to reports highlighting security challenges and extremist violence in Pakistan, stating that such issues similarly warrant objective international scrutiny and consistent application of human rights standards. While concerns related to cross-border terrorism involving Pakistan have been raised in Indian parliamentary discussions, Charak said the broader international response to extremist violence and minority protection remains uneven.

Charak warned that selective enforcement and inconsistent international focus raise serious concerns about fairness, impartiality, and credibility in global governance. He added that powerful nations — particularly the United States — are often perceived as shaping international responses based on strategic interests rather than impartial justice, a perception that risks undermining multilateral institutions and the rules-based international order.

He stressed that these inconsistencies underscore the urgent need for the international community to uphold its legal and moral obligations without bias or double standards. National laws, he said, must function in harmony with international law, and sovereignty, democracy, and human rights must be respected uniformly.

Charak cautioned that long-standing international commitments lose their meaning when applied selectively, and that global peace and stability cannot be achieved through coercion or power-driven strategies.

Reiterating the need to reaffirm the core ideals of the United Nations, Charak said sustainable peace, accountability, and stability can only be achieved when the rule of law prevails over the rule of force, and when international commitments are honored both in letter and spirit.