Islamabad: India cannot alter the internationally recognized disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir through cartography, unilateral declarations, or domestic legislation, stated Sardar Masood Khan, a former ambassador and ex-president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

According to President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Masood Khan criticized India’s insistence on showing Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as part of its territory on maps. He described India’s position as contradictory, particularly given its support for a United Nations resolution aimed at improving cartographic accuracy, which was not intended to settle territorial disputes. The resolution was adopted by 164 votes in favor, one against, and six abstentions.

Sardar Masood Khan emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir remains a disputed territory, with the Line of Control separating regions under different administrations. He highlighted the presence of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan as evidence of the unresolved nature of the dispute.

He referred to multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions that establish the principle of determining the final disposition of Jammu and Kashmir through a plebiscite. He cited Security Council Resolution 47 and subsequent resolutions as affirming that unilateral measures cannot determine the region’s status.

Khan rejected India’s characterization of Jammu and Kashmir as an “internal matter” and warned of the potential for escalation in South Asia. He called for increased diplomatic efforts by Pakistan at international forums and urged engagement with global media, academics, and the Kashmiri diaspora to uphold the right to self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.