Pakistan drew attention to the suffering people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine at the UN Security Council’s debate on conflict-induced global food insecurity and deplored their virtual abandonment by “an indifferent international community.” According to Kashmir Media Service, Ambassador Mohammad Aamir Khan, Deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the 15-member Council: “While food insecurity accompanies most conflict situations, it becomes particularly acute and endemic in situations of prolonged foreign occupation.” The day-long debate was organized by the United States, which holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for the month of August. It was presided over by US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. Over 80 speakers took part in the debate, calling for unity in tackling global hunger and human suffering due to conflict and violence.

“In this debate, attention has been devoted to some of these situations, but not others — I would like to draw special attention to the situations of the peoples of occupied Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir,” Ambassador Aamir Khan told high- level delegates from around the world. “Both these peoples have suffered foreign occupation for seven decades,” the Pakistani envoy said, adding, “They have been subjected to blockades and lockdowns, collective punishments, including deliberate economic and food deprivation. “And, so far, they have been virtually abandoned by an indifferent international community.” The best solution to food insecurity in conflict zones, he said, was the earliest cessation of the use of force and violence and the durable and just solution to these conflicts.

On Jammu and Kashmir, Aamir Khan urged the Security Council to secure the implementation of its resolutions calling for an UN-supervised plebiscite to enable the people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination. Meanwhile, he added, “The world community must ensure that economic deprivation and food insecurity are not utilized by the Indian occupation to crush the legitimate freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people.” The Pakistani envoy’s remarks on Jammu and Kashmir drew a response from an Indian representative that led to a verbal exchange with a Pakistani delegate. Indian representative Madhu Sudan said that Pakistan had “misused” the Council’s discussion on food insecurity.

Emphasizing that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India is non- negotiable, the Indian representative accused Pakistan — without naming it — of involvement in terrorism. He urged Pakistan not to indulge in “friviolous” allegations against India. The Pakistani delegate, Rabia Ijaz, responding to India, said “The biggest falsehood that India keeps repeating” is that Kashmir is a so-called integral part of that country. All relevant Council resolutions state that the final disposition of Kashmir will be determined by its people through an UN-supervised plebiscite, which India has accepted and with which it is bound to comply, she said. “If India has nothing to hide, it must accept a United Nations commission of inquiry and implement the resolution on that plebiscite.”

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)