New York: At an event organized by the Pakistani Mission to the United Nations to mark Kashmir Black Day, speakers emphasized the importance of the right to self-determination for peoples under foreign occupation as a critical step towards global peace and stability. The discussion, themed “Right to self-determination of peoples under foreign occupation,” took place at the Pakistan House and featured a mix of academics, journalists, students, and diplomats.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, and Professor Abdelhamid Siyam, a senior journalist and academic, delivered comprehensive lectures on the application of self-determination in contexts such as Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine. Ambassador Akram detailed the historical and ongoing struggle of Kashmiris, critiquing the lack of implementation of their self-determination rights, which he argued, continues to fuel the conflict.

Ambassador Akram outlined the phases of Kashmir’s resistance against Indian control, especially after the controversial Indian actions on August 5, 2019, which included severe lockdowns and human rights violations. He highlighted the international documentation of abuses in Kashmir and called for the UN and global community to enforce accountability and engage actively in promoting a peaceful resolution that aligns with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

In parallel, Dr. Siyam discussed the Palestinian quest for self-determination, tracing the historical underpinnings of the conflict from Ottoman to British rule, and the subsequent displacement following the establishment of Israel in 1948. He emphasized international legal support for Palestinian rights and condemned recent Israeli policies as exacerbating the conflict.

The event also included an interactive dialogue with students who engaged the speakers on various topics including the role of the UN, the future of India-Pakistan relations, and broader implications for international peace and stability.