UNITED NATIONS, Thursday, January 15, 2026 (WNP): Pakistan on Thursday firmly rejected assertions made by the Indian delegation on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, reiterating that the territory remains internationally recognized as disputed and that its final status must be determined in accordance with the will of its people under United Nations auspices.
Exercising the Right of Reply during the General Assembly debate on the Report of the Secretary-General on the Work of the Organization, Asif Khan, Minister at the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations, described the remarks by the Indian delegate as “untenable” and reflective of a “tired trope” aimed at obscuring established facts and legal realities surrounding the long-standing dispute.
He recalled that the UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples clearly affirms the right of all peoples to self-determination, stressing that India has, for decades, denied this fundamental right to the people of Jammu and Kashmir through what he described as systematic suppression.
Rejecting India’s claim that Jammu and Kashmir is an “integral part” of India, the Pakistani diplomat emphasized that such assertions have no basis in international law. He noted that the UN Security Council, through a series of binding resolutions, has explicitly recognized Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory and mandated that its final disposition be determined through a free and impartial plebiscite under UN supervision.
“THESE DECISIONS WERE ACCEPTED BY INDIA AND REMAIN BINDING UNDER ARTICLE 25 OF THE UN CHARTER,” HE SAID, ADDING THAT THE DISPUTED STATUS OF THE TERRITORY IS ALSO REFLECTED IN OFFICIAL UNITED NATIONS MAPS.
Mr. Khan further expressed serious concern over India’s actions since 5 August 2019, stating that New Delhi has pursued policies aimed at altering the demographic composition of the occupied territory. He said such measures violate the Fourth Geneva Convention and contravene international law.
Concluding his remarks, the Pakistani representative urged the Indian delegation to consult relevant UN Security Council resolutions and official UN documentation before making what he termed inaccurate statements in multilateral forums.
Pakistan has consistently maintained that a just and lasting resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in line with UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, is essential for durable peace and stability in South Asia.
