Islamabad: In a significant appeal at the United Nations, Pakistan has called on the global community to support a UN-sponsored plebiscite to affirm the self-determination right of the Kashmiri people. This plea aligns with longstanding resolutions from the UN Security Council, aiming to address the regional dispute.

According to Kashmir Media Service, during a session of the General Assembly’s Third Committee, which focuses on social, humanitarian, and cultural issues, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, Pakistan’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, highlighted the pressing human rights challenges in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Ambassador Jadoon emphasized the urgent need for international intervention to stop human rights abuses and support the Kashmiri quest for self-governance.

Furthermore, Ambassador Jadoon broadened his address to include the situation in occupied Palestine, stressing that the Palestinian people also suffer from grave human rights violations. He condemned the expansion of illegal settlements, the aggressive actions of the Israeli forces, and the ongoing blockade of Gaza, calling these actions serious violations that require immediate global attention.

In IIOJK, the envoy detailed a troubling pattern of human rights infringements, including excessive use of force, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and curbs on freedom of expression. He noted that these issues have worsened since India’s unilateral actions on 5 August 2019, which aimed to alter the demographic and administrative structure of the region.