At the United Nations on October 10th, Indian and Pakistani representatives engaged in a heated exchange following a speech by Pakistani Ambassador Munir Akram. In his speech, Ambassador Akram emphasized the denial of self-determination to Kashmiris and Palestinians and criticized India’s control over Jammu and Kashmir as a form of modern colonialism. In response, Indian delegate Nitish Birdi argued that the principle of self-determination was meant for decolonization of Non-Self-Governing Territories, not to undermine the territorial integrity of member states like India. He also accused Pakistan of involvement in terrorism.
Pakistani delegate Naeem Sabir Khan countered by pointing out that the right to self-determination is enshrined in various international agreements and that Jammu and Kashmir is considered a disputed territory on UN maps, not an integral part of India. He also raised concerns about India’s state-sponsored terrorism and discrimination against minorities, citing an Amnesty International report.
In summary, the UN meeting saw a clash of views between Indian and Pakistani delegates regarding self-determination, the status of Jammu and Kashmir, and allegations of terrorism and discrimination.
