Pakistan Urges UN to Ensure Kashmiris' Right to Self-Determination
Pakistan calls for a free and impartial plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir under UN auspices.
Pakistan has reiterated its call for a free and impartial plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the region's people must be allowed to exercise their right to self-determination, the state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
The call was made during an interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, where Pakistan's Counsellor Saima Saleem highlighted that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains on the UN Security Council's agenda.
She emphasized that any final resolution must guarantee the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination, as outlined in relevant Security Council resolutions.
Saleem welcomed the Special Rapporteur's recognition of the distinction between minority rights and the right to self-determination, and stressed that Pakistan is committed to protecting minority rights.
A just and lasting resolution to the dispute must be grounded in international law and UN resolutions, enabling Kashmiris to determine their own future, she said.
The Pakistani delegate also raised concerns about rising Islamophobia, religious profiling, and restrictions on religious freedoms.
The Jammu and Kashmir dispute has been a longstanding issue between India and Pakistan, with both countries claiming sovereignty over the region.
The UN Security Council has passed several resolutions calling for a plebiscite to determine the region's future, but the process has been stalled for decades.
