New York: A sharp exchange unfolded at the United Nations following remarks by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as Pakistani and Indian delegates clashed over the issues of Kashmir and alleged state-sponsored terrorism. The verbal duel highlighted deep-seated tensions between the two nations, particularly regarding the contested region of Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the confrontation was ignited by the Pakistani Prime Minister’s address during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he condemned India’s policies in Kashmir and accused India of fostering terrorism against Pakistan. The Indian delegate, Bhavika Mangalanandan, countered by asserting that Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter of India and accused Pakistan of perpetuating cross-border terrorism.
Pakistani delegate Muhammad Faheem vehemently rejected these claims, emphasizing that Jammu and Kashmir remains a disputed territory under international law, not an internal issue of India. He cited longstanding UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite to allow the Kashmiri people to determine their future, a process India has yet to honor.
Faheem also accused India of severe human rights violations in Kashmir, including extrajudicial killings and widespread repression. He detailed the heavy military presence and the suppression of political and civil freedoms in the region, describing it as the world’s most extensive military occupation.
The discourse escalated as Faheem criticized India’s broader human rights record, highlighting the treatment of minorities within India and the use of terrorism as a political tool, both domestically and internationally. He pointed to the arrest of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian naval officer, as evidence of India’s covert operations in Pakistan.
The Pakistani delegate concluded by urging India to halt its alleged state-sponsored terrorism and to engage constructively in resolving the Kashmir issue in accordance with international law.