In a sharp diplomatic rebuttal at the United Nations, Pakistan has categorically dismissed India's assertion that Jammu and Kashmir constitutes its "integral and inalienable part." The Pakistani delegation emphasized that United Nations resolutions explicitly recognize the Himalayan region as a disputed territory, a status that remains unresolved under international law.
Diplomatic Clash Over UN Priorities
The exchange occurred during a session of the UN General Assembly on Thursday, where member states were commenting on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's outlined priorities for 2026. Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, while delivering his statement, made a pointed reference to the long-standing Kashmir dispute. He argued that the continued denial of the right to self-determination for the Kashmiri people undermines the credibility of the entire international system.
This remark prompted an immediate objection from the Indian delegation. Eldos Punoose, a Counsellor at India's Permanent Mission to the UN, protested the reference, labeling the Pakistani ambassador's comments as "unwarranted." This set the stage for Pakistan's formal right of reply.
Pakistan's Firm Rebuttal on Legal Grounds
Exercising the right of reply, Asif Khan, a Minister at Pakistan's UN Mission, delivered a firm counter-statement. He directly challenged the foundational Indian position on Kashmir. "Jammu and Kashmir is not 'an integral part' of India, nor has it ever been so under international law," Khan stated unequivocally before the 193-member Assembly.
Khan characterized India's arguments as "a tired trope intended to obscure established facts and legal realities." His central point reinforced Pakistan's longstanding stance: the territory's status is not settled but is internationally acknowledged as a dispute, pending the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions that promise a plebiscite for the Kashmiri people.
The Enduring Core of the Dispute
This latest verbal confrontation at the world's premier diplomatic forum underscores the persistent and deep-seated nature of the Kashmir conflict. The Pakistani response highlights the following key elements:
- The centrality of UN resolutions in defining the region's status.
- The principle of self-determination for Kashmiris as a core issue.
- Pakistan's commitment to framing the dispute within the context of international law and multilateral commitments.
The episode confirms that Kashmir remains a primary flashpoint in Indo-Pakistani relations, with both nations vigorously defending their positions on every available global platform. The exchange at the General Assembly reflects the ongoing diplomatic struggle to shape the international narrative around one of the world's most protracted conflicts.
