UNITED NATIONS, Oct 16 (Alliance News): Pakistan has firmly rejected India’s claim that Jammu and Kashmir is an “integral part” of its territory, reiterating its call for a UN-supervised plebiscite to determine the will of the Kashmiri people, in line with UN Security Council resolutions.
“Jammu and Kashmir is not, never has been, and will never be an ‘integral’ part of India,” declared Ansar Shah, a Pakistani delegate, during a session of the UN General Assembly’s Special Political and Decolonization Committee on Tuesday.
Shah was responding to an earlier statement by Indian delegate Eldos Mathew Punnoose, who had accused Pakistan of misinterpreting the principle of self-determination, claiming it did not justify undermining India’s territorial integrity.
However, Shah stressed that the disputed status of Kashmir is recognized by both the UN and the international community, emphasizing India’s obligation under Article 25 of the UN Charter to implement the Security Council’s resolutions.
The debate followed a sharp statement by Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram, who condemned India’s occupation of Jammu and Kashmir as “the worst manifestation of modern-day colonialism.”
Akram urged the UN to ensure a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
Shah also criticized India for its ongoing repression in Kashmir, noting that many pro-freedom Hurriyat leaders remain incarcerated, with several having died under suspicious circumstances while in custody.
He warned that Pakistan would respond decisively to any Indian aggression, especially in the face of threats to “take over” Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
In a scathing critique, Shah referred to India as the “mother of terrorism” in South Asia, accusing it of resorting to terrorist activities against its neighbors as part of its hegemonic policies.
He pointed to recent targeted assassinations allegedly carried out by Indian agents in countries like Canada and the United States, warning of the global expansion of what he described as India’s “terrorist franchise.”
Shah concluded by calling for international opposition to Hindutva extremism and the protection of India’s minorities, adding that unless the Kashmiri people are freed from Indian colonial rule, India will continue to pose a “clear and present danger” to regional and global stability.