India, Pakistan clash once again at the United Nations

Tensions between Pakistan and India flared once more within the chambers of the United Nations, as Caretaker Premier Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar reminded the UN Security Council of its unfinished business regarding the implementation of resolutions for conducting a plebiscite in the disputed territory.

Pakistan PM Kakar's characterization of India's severe human rights violations in the occupied territory as a 'genocide' drew strong objections from Indian representatives. During a subsequent news conference, Mr. Kakar defended his use of the term, asserting that he would use it again if necessary.
'Genocide is an appropriate term if it accurately describes the situation; failing to call it a genocide would be a disservice,' he stated. 'India has systematically employed this as a means of eliminating the Kashmiri population.'
PM Kakar argued that no other word could adequately convey the suffering of the Kashmiri people. He emphasized that while they faced violence and sexual assault, he could not withhold the term 'genocide' out of concern for anyone's sensitivities.
On the same day, Indian delegate Petal Gahlot responded to Prime Minister Kakar's remarks about the situation in occupied Kashmir during the general debate at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
Gahlot asserted that the disputed Himalayan state was an integral part of India, stating, 'Pakistan has no authority to comment on our domestic affairs.' She also accused Pakistan of involvement in terrorism and urged Islamabad to address the 'appalling' conditions faced by minorities and women in the country.
'For peace to prevail in South Asia, Pakistan must take three critical steps: firstly, cease cross-border terrorism and dismantle its terrorist infrastructure immediately,' she emphasized. 'Secondly, vacate Indian territories under its unlawful and forcible control. Lastly, halt the grave and ongoing human rights violations against minorities in Pakistan.'
Ms. Gahlot reiterated India's position that Jammu and Kashmir were an integral part of India, emphasizing that Pakistan had no standing to make statements regarding India's internal affairs.
In response, Pakistan's delegate, Saima Saleem, refuted India's assertion that Jammu and Kashmir were an integral part of India. She firmly stated, 'It never was, and it never will be.'
The clash at the United Nations serves as a stark reminder of the longstanding and deeply entrenched tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with the resolution of the Kashmir dispute remaining a contentious issue on the international stage.