Embassy of Pakistan
Kampala - Uganda
Kampala - Uganda
Background
The Jammu and Kashmir dispute is one of the longest pending disputes on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). A number of UN Security Council resolutions, inter alia, affirm the right of Kashmiris to self-determination and the manner in which the Jammu and Kashmir dispute would be resolved. They categorically state that the final disposition of the state of Jammu and Kashmir will be made in accordance with the will of the Kashmiri people expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations.
India has been taking different steps to strengthen its occupation of Jammu and Kashmir since 27 October 1947 when it forcibly took over control of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. However, in a major development, on 5 August 2019, India scrapped the special status of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and bifurcated it into two ‘Union Territories’ to alter its internationally-recognized disputed status and undermine the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.These measures were in blatant violation of the UN Security Council resolutions and international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention.
India has since started a process to change the demographic structure and political landscape of IIOJK. The ultimate aim is to transform the Kashmiri people into a disempowered minority in their own land.
Notwithstanding the solemn commitments made by India to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Security Council, and Pakistan, to abide by and implement relevant Security Council resolutions, India has progressively reneged on these commitments at every stage. However, India’s prevarication cannot change the facts of history and law.
History has shown time and again that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute constitutes a threat to peace and security in the region with consequences across the borders. Following the Pahalgam Attack, the Indian aggression against Pakistan, once again, brought two nuclear powers to the brink of a major conflict. Pakistan responded responsibly and decisively under Article 51 of the UN Charter to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against India.
These developments, once again, show that lasting peace in South Asia is impossible without resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Pakistan is committed to upholding the ceasefire and promote an environment of regional peace and stability. However, statements emanating from India continue to reflect an aggressive posture towards Pakistan.
Since 1948, the UN Security Council has remained seized of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute under the Agenda item “India-Pakistan Question” and passed over a dozen resolutions. Important resolutions related to J&K dispute are given below:
Human Rights Situation
The human rights situation in IIOJK has also worsened significantly following India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019 aimed at perpetuating its illegal occupation and altering demographic composition of the disputed territory and turning Kashmiris into a minority in their own homeland.
Since 5 August 2019, India’s occupation forces have intensified their campaign of oppression that includes extrajudicial killings; arbitrary arrests; torture; enforced disappearances; collective punishments; sexual violence; restrictions on freedom of expression and religion; curbs on media; internet shutdowns; and arrests of human rights defenders. The entire Hurriyat political leadership, the genuine voice of the Kashmiri people, has been arbitrarily incarcerated for the past several years.
Indian authorities continue to ban political parties that genuinely represent the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, with a total of 16 parties currently banned in IIOJK.
Some prominent Kashmiri leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, have died in detention. The total period of the confinement of his successor, Musarrat Alam Bhatt, exceeds 20 years. Another Kashmiri leader, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, who has been diagnosed with cancer, spent over half of his 71 years’ life in jails. Ms. Aasia Andrabi, a prominent female Kashmiri leader and activist, has been recently convicted under fabricated charges after being illegally incarcerated for more than 15 years.Dr. Qasim Faktoo, a distinguished Kashmiri leader and husband of Ms. Aasia Andrabi, has been incarcerated for over 33 years onfabricated charges as well. The Indian authorities have sought death penalty for Mr. Yaseen Malik, who was awarded life sentence in 2022.
The reported profiling of mosques and mosque management committees in January 2026 in IIOJK is a blatant intrusion into religious affairs and constitutes a grave violation of the fundamental right to freedom of religion and belief. It reflects yet another coercive attempt to intimidate and marginalize the Muslim population of the IIOJK.
The human rights violations in IIOJK are well-documented by human rights organizations and international bodies, including the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has published two Reports in 2018 and 2019, extensively documenting India’s systemic, systematic and flagrant human rights abuses in Indian Illegally occupied Jammu&Kashmir (IIOJK). The reports indict India, inter alia, for its excessive use of force, including pellet gunshots; extrajudicial killings in the garb of so-called cordon and search operations; arbitrary arrests and detentions; and torture against Kashmiri civilians, journalists as well as political and human rights activists. They further draw special attention towards the persisting climate of impunity, enjoyed by the Indian occupation forces under the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Public Safety Act (PSA).
Pakistan has welcomed the two UN Kashmir Reports and strongly echoed its key recommendations, which call for fully respecting the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu & Kashmir and establishment of a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to investigate the gross and systematic human rights violations in IIOJ&K.
The Reports are given below:
The recent report by the United Nations Special Procedures experts in November 2025 indicates that Indian authorities have arbitrarily detained nearly 2,800 people, including journalists, students, and human rights defenders. These detentions reflect a broader pattern of pressure on religious minorities in India, particularly of Kashmiri Muslims.
Unfortunately, the prospects of durable peace and stability in South Asia, and the great potential for economic development and regional cooperation, have been held hostage by India’s unhelpful approach towards resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute. In any case, Pakistan will continue to call upon the international community to demand India to:
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) supports the legitimate and just struggle of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu&Kashmir (IIOJ&K) for their inalienable right to self-determination, and continues to call for protection and promotion of all basic human rights and freedoms of the Kashmiri people against India’s state terrorism.
The Organization is staunch advocate of expeditious and peaceful settlement of the dispute in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UNSC and OIC resolutions and international law. The OIC has been regularly adopting RESOLUTIONS ON THE JAMMU & KASHMIR DISPUTE at its Summit and Ministerial meetings.
The most recent (51st) session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), which was held in Istanbul from 21-22June 2025, also adopted a comprehensive resolution (no. 08/51-POL) on the Jammu and Kashmir, which reaffirmed OIC’s principled position on the dispute and firmly rejected India’s illegal and unilateral actions being taken since 5 August 2019 to effect change in the demographic structure of the occupied territory, in contravention of the UN Charter, relevant UNSecurity Council resolutions and international law, especially 4th Geneva Convention.
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