Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif raised the Kashmir issue at the UNGA, urging India to engage in dialogue for resolution and to reverse the abrogation of Article 370. He also condemned rising Islamophobia in India. Indian Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to respond strongly to these allegations at the UNGA.
During the recent session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif focused on the contentious Kashmir issue, urging India to engage in dialogue for a peaceful resolution. He emphasized that durable peace in the region requires the reversal of India’s abrogation of Article 370, which previously granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing the UNGA, Mr. Sharif made a 20-minute speech highlighting the plight of Kashmiris, invoking the legacy of Burhan Wani, a figure associated with the insurgency. He likened the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination to that of the Palestinian people, calling for India to adhere to United Nations Security Council resolutions which advocate for a plebiscite to allow Kashmiris to express their will. Furthermore, Prime Minister Sharif condemned the rise of Islamophobia, specifically citing what he termed the “Hindu supremacist agenda” in India, which he claimed threatens the rights and heritage of 200 million Muslims in the country. In response, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to address the General Assembly, where India is expected to firmly rebut Pakistan’s claims and reiterate that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. The longstanding tensions between the two nations have intensified since India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.
The Kashmir conflict is a long-standing territorial dispute between India and Pakistan, which has roots dating back to the partition of British India in 1947. Despite being raised frequently by Pakistan in international forums, including the UN, the Indian government maintains that Jammu and Kashmir, along with Ladakh, is an inalienable part of India. The abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 aimed to integrate Jammu and Kashmir more fully into India, a move that has been met with criticism from Pakistan and claims of increased oppression of the Kashmiri people. The backdrop of this ongoing dispute is further complicated by allegations of rising extremism and Islamophobia within Indian society as articulated by Pakistani leadership.
In summary, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address at the UNGA brought the Kashmir issue to the forefront, reiterating Pakistan’s call for a peaceful dialogue and reversal of India’s abrogation of Article 370. His remarks about the treatment of Muslims in India and the struggle for self-determination in Kashmir resonate with Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to internationalize the Kashmir dispute, while India remains firm in its stance regarding territorial integrity and internal matters. The forthcoming response by Minister S. Jaishankar is anticipated to highlight India’s position and counter Pakistan’s assertions.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
