Tensions flared at the UN General Assembly as India accused Pakistan of hijacking the self-determination doctrine to vilify democratic nations over Kashmir. The latest salvo came during talks on the UN’s yearly performance report led by Antonio Guterres.
Pakistan’s Asim Iftikhar Ahmad wove Kashmir into his advocacy for Palestinian rights and restated opposition to enlarging the Security Council’s permanent roster, motivated primarily by anti-India sentiment.
Counselor Eldos Punnos of India’s mission countered with authority: self-determination, a cornerstone of the UN Charter, must not fuel separatism in multifaceted societies. ‘Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory is intrinsically Indian; Pakistan’s repetitive, unfounded intrusions here distort facts,’ he asserted.
Punnos criticized Pakistan’s strategy of leveraging every platform for division, despite scant attention from peers. He called for an end to fabrications that misrepresent ground realities in the region.
India invokes UNSC Resolution 47, which mandates Pakistani withdrawal—a non-starter for Islamabad. Subsequent democratic milestones, including robust voter turnouts electing regional leaders, have cemented Kashmir’s bond with India, obviating any need for plebiscites.
With most UN members, especially from Africa, dismissing Pakistan’s reform views, isolation looms large for Islamabad. India’s forthright intervention not only refutes propaganda but also bolsters its narrative of unity and progress in Jammu and Kashmir, signaling resolve on the international podium.