Shehbaz Sharif Addresses UNGA: A Call to Dialogue on Kashmir and General Concerns for Muslims in India.

At the UN General Assembly, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif demanded that India reverse its 2019 abrogation of Article 370 and enter discussions for a peaceful resolution regarding Jammu and Kashmir, while also addressing the issue of Islamophobia faced by Muslims in India. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to respond to these allegations.

At the recently convened United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reasserted his country’s stance on the Kashmir issue, urging India to engage in dialogue for a “peaceful” resolution. He emphasized that for sustainable peace, India must reverse its 2019 abrogation of Article 370, which previously granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Sharif’s speech, lasting over 20 minutes, highlighted not only the Kashmir conflict but also the broader implications of Islamophobia in India, which he attributed to a “Hindu supremacist agenda” that purportedly targets the Muslim population of over 200 million in the country. Sharif drew parallels between the struggles of the Kashmiri people and those in Palestine, asserting that both groups have long fought for their freedom and right to self-determination. In his address, he claimed that India’s actions have perpetuated a narrative of oppression that continues to inspire resistance among Kashmiris. He quoted the UN Security Council resolutions, which he argued call for a plebiscite to allow Kashmiris to exercise their fundamental rights. Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar is set to respond to these assertions in the UNGA following the debate, reinforcing India’s viewpoint that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of its territory and advising Pakistan to address its internal matters instead of casting unfounded allegations against India.

The Kashmir issue has remained at the forefront of India-Pakistan relations since the partition of British India in 1947. Following significant territorial disputes, the decision by New Delhi to abrogate Article 370 on August 5, 2019, intensified tensions by revoking the special status that Jammu and Kashmir had held. Pakistan has persistently raised this matter in various international forums, seeking support for its claims and advocating for the rights of the Kashmiri people. In contemporary discourse, accusations of rising Islamophobia in India, particularly against its Muslim community, have also become a central element of Pakistan’s narrative.

In conclusion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address to the UNGA accentuates Pakistan’s enduring commitment to advocating for Kashmir, stressing dialogue and a retraction of the 2019 policy shift by India. His emphasis on the plight of Muslims in India as part of a broader narrative of Islamophobia highlights the geopolitical dimensions impacting regional stability. As India prepares to counter these claims, the ongoing discourse ensures that Kashmir remains a significant flashpoint between the two nations.

Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com