Pakistan’s predictable Kashmir fixation resurfaced at the UN General Assembly, prompting a trenchant Indian response that dismantled its misuse of self-determination rhetoric. The debate stemmed from deliberations on Secretary-General Guterres’ report on UN operations.
Envoy Asim Iftikhar Ahmad drew parallels between Palestinian self-determination and Kashmir, while opposing Security Council expansion—a clear jab at India. Undeterred by widespread indifference from other members, Pakistan stuck to its script.
India’s representative, Counselor Eldos Punnos, delivered a pointed critique. He affirmed Jammu and Kashmir’s status as an essential, indivisible Indian territory and warned against weaponizing UN principles to incite division in tolerant democracies.
‘Pakistan exploits forums like this with baseless claims about our Union Territory,’ Punnos remarked, noting Islamabad’s addiction to falsehoods. He urged a shift away from divisive tactics, especially amid calls for broader international cooperation.
Recalling UNSC Resolution 47 of 1948, India highlighted Pakistan’s failure to withdraw troops as a prerequisite for any plebiscite. Today, vibrant electoral participation in Kashmir elections underscores the people’s allegiance to the Indian Union, making referendum talks irrelevant.
Pakistan’s positions, including on Council reform, find little traction globally, with African nations among those at odds. This confrontation serves as a reminder of India’s firm sovereignty claims and Pakistan’s diminishing echo chamber at the UN. As discussions evolve, New Delhi’s clarity positions it strongly on the world stage.