New York, United States

Pakistan once again brought up the Kashmir issue during the United Nations General Assembly on Friday (September 27). Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged India to reverse the decision to revoke Article 370 in order to achieve lasting peace.

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Speaking at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Sharif called for India to engage in discussions for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir conflict, according to a report by news agency PTI.

In his speech, which lasted over 20 minutes, Sharif addressed the Jammu and Kashmir issue, referring to the revocation of Article 370 and Hizbul militant Burhan Wani. During his address at the UNGA, the Pakistani leader drew a comparison between the situations in Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, stating that both have fought for their freedom and right to self-determination for a century.

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"Similarly, like the people of Palestine, the people of Jammu and Kashmir too, have struggled for a century for their freedom and right to self determination," he said.

Commenting on India’s 2019 decision to revoke Article 370, Sharif stated, "To establish lasting peace, India must reverse the illegal and unilateral actions taken in August 2019 and engage in dialogue for a peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue as per UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people."

"India’s policy of brutal coersion and oppression, in occupied Kashmir has ensured, that Burhan Wani’s legacy, continues to inspire, the struggle and sacrifices, of millions of Kashmiris. Inspired by the legitimacy, of their epic struggle, they remain defiant," Sharif posted on the social media platform X.

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Sharif also accused India of straying from its commitments to the Security Council's resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, as per PTI. “These resolutions require a plebiscite, allowing the people of Jammu and Kashmir to decide their future through the right to self-determination,” the Pakistani Prime Minister added.

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Sharif further claimed that the rise of Islamophobia is a concerning global trend. He said that "the most dangerous example of Islamophobia is the Hindu supremacist agenda in India, which aims to oppress 200 million Muslims and erase the Islamic history of the country."

“In a classic settler colonial project, India is seizing Kashmiri lands and properties and settling outsiders into occupied Jammu and Kashmir [ Jammu and Kashmir] in their nefarious design to transform the Muslim majority into a minority,” he added.

How did India respond to Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif's UNGA speech?

Indian diplomat Bhavika Mangalanandan, First Secretary at India’s mission to the UN, responded to Sharif’s comments at the UNGA, calling his speech a "travesty" during the Right of Reply session. 

"This assembly regrettably witnessed a travesty this morning. A country run by the military, with a global reputation for terrorism, narcotics, trade and transnational crime has had the audacity to attack the world's largest democracy," Bhavika Mangalanandan said.

"I speak about the reference to India in the speech of the Pakistani PM. As the world knows, Pakistan has long employed cross-border terrorism as a weapon against its neighbours. It has attacked our parliament, our financial capital, Mumbai, marketplaces and pilgrimage routes. The list is long. For such a country to speak about violence anywhere is hypocrisy at its worst. It is even more extraordinary for a country with a history of rigged elections to talk about political choices that too, in a democracy," she added.

"The real truth is that Pakistan covets our territory and in fact has continuously used terrorism to disrupt elections in Jammu and Kashmir, an inalienable and integral part of India. A reference has been made to some proposals of strategic restraint. There can be no compact with terrorism," the Indian diplomat added.

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to speak at the UN General Assembly on Saturday.

(With inputs from agencies)