Fresh diplomatic exchange at the United Nations sees Pakistan and India reiterate their longstanding positions on the Kashmir dispute.
Pakistan Rejects India’s Position on Kashmir
Pakistan has strongly rejected India’s assertion that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country, telling the United Nations General Assembly that the disputed territory “never was, neither is, nor ever will be” part of India.
The remarks were made by Pakistan’s Political Coordinator at the UN, Gul Qaiser Sarwani, while exercising Pakistan’s right of reply during a debate at the United Nations.
His statement came in response to comments by India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, who reiterated New Delhi’s position that Kashmir is an integral part of India.
Pakistan Highlights UN Security Council Resolutions
Addressing the General Assembly, Sarwani said that Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally recognised dispute that continues to be on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council.
He argued that the historical, legal, and international status of the territory cannot be altered by unilateral claims and maintained that the dispute remains unresolved under international law.
Pakistan has consistently maintained that the future of Kashmir should be determined in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people, while India maintains that the region is an internal matter.
Ambassador Asim Links Regional Peace to Kashmir Resolution
Earlier during the debate, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said the Security Council’s annual report demonstrated the continued relevance of both the Kashmir and Palestine issues.
According to Ambassador Asim, more than 20 communications related to the India-Pakistan question were submitted to the Security Council during 2025. He also noted that the Council held closed consultations on Kashmir in May 2025, which he said reflected the issue’s continuing significance on the international agenda.
The Pakistani envoy stated that lasting peace and stability in South Asia require a just settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and the principle of self-determination.
Pakistan Also Raises Palestine Issue
During his address, Ambassador Asim also referred to the situation in Palestine, particularly developments in Gaza.
He welcomed the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 and called for its full implementation.
Pakistan reiterated its support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem (Al-Quds Al-Sharif) as its capital.
Support for Peacekeeping and UN Reform
The Pakistani envoy also highlighted the role of UN peacekeeping operations and special political missions in addressing global conflicts.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to international peacekeeping efforts and called for a more representative and accountable multilateral system within the United Nations.
Ambassador Asim argued that concerns remain among member states regarding the use of veto powers and broader questions surrounding reform of the UN system.
Longstanding Dispute Remains a Diplomatic Flashpoint
The latest exchange reflects the continuing diplomatic differences between Pakistan and India over Kashmir, a dispute that has remained at the centre of relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours since 1947.
While both countries continue to present their positions in international forums, the issue remains one of the most sensitive and unresolved territorial disputes in South Asia, with each side advocating sharply different interpretations of its legal and political status.
