Pakistan does it again, Shehbaz Sharif raises Kashmir at UN

Sharif claimed the Kashmiri people had been waiting for the United Nations to fulfil its commitment to a “free and impartial plebiscite” under its auspices.

Prefer HTon Google

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif again raised the Kashmir issue while addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday, saying that it needs a “just and fair solution”.

Sharif claimed the Kashmiri people had been waiting for the United Nations to fulfil its commitment to a “free and impartial plebiscite” under its auspices.

He alleged that generations of Kashmiris had endured “illegal occupation, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearance, sexual violence, and collective punishment".

“But this requires a just and fair solution to the Kashmir dispute. For eight decades, the Kashmiri people have waited for the United Nations to fulfil its solemn commitment to a free and impartial plebiscite under its auspices. Generations have endured illegal occupation, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearance, sexual violence, and collective punishment,” Sharif said.

There was no immediate reaction from India at the time of filing this report. India has repeatedly rejected Pakistan's assertions on Kashmir made at the UNGA forum as well as on other UN platforms in the past, saying that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.

Shehbaz Sharif on the Indus Waters Treaty issue

In his UNGA address, Shehbaz Sharif warned that any attempt to stop, impede or divert Pakistan’s share of the Indus River waters would be treated as an “act of war”, as he criticised India’s decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance.

India decided to put the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance as part of a series of punitive diplomatic and economic measures unveiled soon after last year's Pahalgam terror attack that had killed 26 civilians.

Sharif also used the UN General Assembly podium to credit US President Donald Trump for his "timely intervention" in the 2025 conflict with India.

New Delhi had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 last year, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack. US President Trump has repeatedly claimed, as recently as in his address to the UN General Assembly this week, that he stopped the war between India and Pakistan.

India has consistently denied any third-party intervention in the ceasefire understanding reached on May 10 of last year.

• 

  Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More