New York: In diplomatic victory on the international stage, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution on “Universal Realization of the Right of the People to Self-determination”.
The Foreign Office said that 72 countries from across the world had co-sponsored this resolution – primarily moved by Pakistan – which was adopted by consensus in the general assembly.
The resolution reaffirms unequivocal support for realization of the right to self-determination for peoples under foreign occupation, colonial domination, and subjugation. It firmly opposes acts of foreign occupation, intervention and aggression, and calls upon responsible States to immediately cease such acts.
Pakistan has been sponsoring this flagship resolution since 1970. This annual initiative serves to draw international attention towards the plight and rights of peoples living in internationally recognized situations of foreign occupation, including in Indian Administered Kashmir and in Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Adoption of this resolution is a reaffirmation of the inalienable right of occupied peoples to self-determination, as enshrined in international law, the UN Charter and numerous UN resolutions. Three generations of Kashmiris have suffered at the hands of Indian occupation forces, waiting for the actualization of UN’s promise to them.
Despite lapse of seven decades, Indian Administered Kashmir dispute remains unresolved due to India’s obstinate refusal to honour its commitments and its disrespect for the fundamental human rights and international law.
Indian occupation forces have intensified repression of the Kashmiris through surge in extra-judicial killings, fake encounters, arbitrary detention of Kashmiri journalists and human rights defenders, communications blackouts, incarceration of Kashmiri political leaders, violent suppression of peaceful Kashmiri protests, use of pellet guns and demolition of entire neighborhoods and villages as collective punishment.
Pakistan, on its part, will continue to extend all possible support to the Kashmiri people until they realize their legitimate and inalienable right to self-determination, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolution.
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