At the UNGA, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged for dialogue with India on the Kashmir issue and criticized the treatment of Muslims in India. He called for the reversal of the abrogation of Article 370 and compliance with UN resolutions. In contrast, India reaffirmed its stance on Kashmir and is poised to rebut Sharif’s claims through S. Jaishankar’s address.
During the latest session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated his country’s stance on the Kashmir issue, urging India to engage in dialogue for a peaceful resolution. He called for the reversal of the August 2019 abrogation of Article 370, which had previously granted special status to the region of Jammu and Kashmir. In his address, which lasted over 20 minutes, Sharif emphasized the need for India to implement United Nations Security Council resolutions that advocate for a plebiscite, allowing the Kashmiri people to exercise their right to self-determination. Sharif also expressed concern over what he termed a rise in Islamophobia, specifically citing a perceived Hindu supremacist agenda that targets India’s Muslim population. He claimed that this ideology seeks to undermine the rights of approximately 200 million Muslims in India and threatens the country’s Islamic heritage. In response to these allegations, India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, is scheduled to address the UNGA, where India is expected to firmly counter Sharif’s claims. The Indian government has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and encourages Pakistan to address its internal issues rather than focus on Kashmir.
The Kashmir conflict is a long-standing territorial dispute between India and Pakistan, rooted in the partition of British India in 1947. The abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 by the Indian government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, intensifying tensions between the two nations. Pakistan frequently raises the Kashmir issue in international forums, including the UN, seeking international support for its claims. Conversely, India asserts its sovereignty over the region and calls on Pakistan to resolve its domestic challenges rather than engage in what it considers baseless allegations.
In summary, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address at the UNGA illustrates Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to draw international attention to the Kashmir issue and highlight concerns regarding the treatment of Muslims in India. With India preparing to respond to these allegations through Minister Jaishankar’s upcoming address, the situation reflects the persistent complexities of Indo-Pak relations, particularly regarding Kashmir.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
