UNITED NATIONS, Pakistan emphasized to a UN panel the ongoing denial of the rights to self-determination for the peoples of Palestine and Kashmir, noting that these rights remain unfulfilled despite the vast majority of colonized populations having achieved them.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, articulated these concerns during the General Assembly’s Third Committee’s discussion. Ambassador Akram pointed out the UN Security Council resolutions that determined the fate of the Kashmiri people via a plebiscite. However, India has consistently obstructed these efforts. He emphasized that the right to self-determination stands as a fundamental principle upheld by the UN Charter among other treaties.

Ambassador Akram further highlighted the actions taken by India in August 2019 when it unilaterally annexed occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Over the subsequent years, India has been accused of committing systematic human rights violations within the occupied region. The magnitude of these alleged transgressions has raised concerns about potential war crimes and acts against humanity. Notably, even after alarms were sounded by entities like the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, India has hindered access to the territory.

Furthermore, Ambassador Akram drew parallels with Israel, emphasizing the recent bombings in Gaza and the West Bank. Following his remarks on Kashmir, an Indian delegate countered by asserting that Kashmir is and will remain an integral part of India. In response, a Pakistani delegate emphasized that the status of Jammu and Kashmir is unresolved, and its affiliation will be determined through a free and impartial plebiscite.