- Sarwani urges India to end the occupation and follow UN Security Council resolutions.
- Exposes India’s rights violations, misrepresenting IIOJK demographics.
- States that Pakistan acted responsibly and rejects Indian claims from Pahalgam.
Pakistan told the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday that Jammu and Kashmir is not Indian territory and will never be recognized as such, rejecting New Delhi’s claims during a discussion at the world body.
“Let me be clear: Kashmir is not, never was and never will be so-called part of India,” said Gul Qaiser Sarwani, advisor and political coordinator of the Pakistan mission, while speaking at the United Nations Security Council open debate on leadership for peace.
He said: “Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory, and this is not just Pakistan’s position; This is the position of the United Nations.
“India itself took the matter to the Security Council and accepted the obligation to allow the people of Jammu and Kashmir to determine their future through a UN-supervised plebiscite.
“Nearly eight decades later, this commitment remains unfulfilled.”
Sarwani added: “Instead, India maintains a massive military presence, suppresses fundamental freedoms, silences independent voices and pursues measures aimed at changing the demographic character of the territory – in blatant violation of international law and its legal obligations as an occupying power. »
Regarding the terrorism allegations, he said, “India’s attempts to divert attention through baseless terrorism allegations cannot hide its history of sponsoring terrorism across its borders, perpetrating state terrorism in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, state-sponsored global assassination campaign, including in North America, and state support for violence against its minorities.” »
He noted: “There is credible evidence of India’s sponsorship of terrorist groups, including the TTP, Fitna Alkhwarij, and the BLA, Fitna Hindustan, which have carried out attacks in Pakistan. »
Sarwani also said: “In addition to its blatant support of terrorism against Pakistan, it is India that has repeatedly undertaken aggression against Pakistan – in blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter. »
He added that Pakistan had always acted with responsibility and restraint, saying, “Pakistan, as a responsible State, joined other members of the Security Council in condemning the Pahalgam incident. Pakistan proposed an independent and credible investigation, which India rejected.”
Describing India’s conduct, Sarwani said: “This conduct of the Indian state reflects the mindset of a rogue actor, assuming the roles of judge, jury and executioner, in blatant disregard for international law and norms.
“There was no self-defense on India’s part; this was outright aggression against a sovereign state.”
He highlighted Pakistan’s response: “Pakistan’s violation of India’s sovereignty was responded to appropriately by inflicting casualties on Indian military and aviation assets – including shooting down several Indian aircraft that participated in the aggression.” »
On the Indus Waters Treaty, Sarwani said, “India’s remarks on the Indus Waters Treaty are nothing but a deliberate distortion of facts and a misinterpretation of a binding international agreement.
“No provision in the Indus Waters Treaty authorizes unilateral suspension or modification or so-called “suspension”. Such actions amount to weaponization of water for limited political gains.”
He cited the 2025 Court of Arbitration award, noting: “The 2025 Court of Arbitration award reaffirmed the continued validity of the Treaty and its dispute resolution mechanisms, confirming Pakistan’s position that all disputes must be resolved strictly within the legal framework of the Treaty.
“Pakistan has also brought its position and concerns to the attention of the Security Council.”
Sarwani also spoke about democracy in India, saying: “India’s claims to democracy deserve scrutiny, particularly when its actions reflect the systematic erosion of civil liberties, the suppression of dissent, the marginalization and oppression of minorities, and the rise of majoritarian extremism under Hindutva ideology.” »
He rejected India’s criticism of Pakistan’s laws, adding: “We reject the baseless and misplaced characterization of Pakistan’s constitutional and legislative processes, which are passed by a two-thirds majority of Pakistan’s parliament.”
“Like all parliamentary democracies, constitutional amendments are the exclusive domain of the elected representatives of the people of Pakistan. India has neither the status nor the moral authority to question Pakistan’s constitutional processes.
“No one needs lessons in democracy or the rule of law from a state whose conduct is in blatant contradiction of those principles.”
Concluding, he said: “In the spirit of today’s debate, pro-peace leaders demand that India abandon denial, end its occupation of Jammu and Kashmir, end state terrorism, respect its international obligations, implement UN Security Council resolutions and choose the path of dialogue and good neighborliness.
