US-Based Kashmiris Thank Pakistan for Internationally Raising Kashmir Issue

October 29, 2026 at 9:09 PM
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NEW YORK: US-based Kashmiris, at an event marking October 27 as the day of the occupation of Jammu and Kashmir, thanked Pakistan for internationally raising the Kashmir issue.

Held under the theme “Jammu & Kashmir: 79 Years of Occupation, Resistance and Resilience,” the event highlighted the need for a lasting resolution in line with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, stressing that peace and stability in South Asia depend on settling the longstanding dispute.

Addressing the gathering, Usman Jadoon, Acting Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, said October 27, 1947, marked a tragic turning point in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, when Indian troops entered the territory, and the Kashmiri people were deprived of the opportunity to determine their own future.

“For 79 years, the Kashmiri people have endured occupation, repression and suffering while continuing their legitimate struggle for their inalienable right to self-determination, as affirmed by relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions,” Ambassador Jadoon said.

He noted that generations of Kashmiris had endured immense suffering, with families separated, lives lost, communities traumatised and fundamental freedoms restricted. Despite decades of hardship, he said, the Kashmiri people remained determined to secure their right to self-determination.

Ambassador Jadoon stressed that attempts to silence Kashmiri voices and restrictions on independent reporting could not diminish the significance of their demands or the need for international scrutiny.

He called for the protection of fundamental human rights, the release of individuals arbitrarily detained, and unrestricted access for international human rights mechanisms to assess conditions on the ground.

He also underscored the United Nations’ special responsibility to uphold its Charter and implement the relevant Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir. These resolutions, he said, remained central to a peaceful settlement of the dispute, including the realisation of the Kashmiri people’s right to determine their future through a free and impartial plebiscite.

Speakers Urge Diplomatic Efforts for Peaceful, Just Settlement of Kashmir Dispute

Pakistan reaffirms support for the people of Kashmir

Consul General of Pakistan in New York Aamer Ahmed Atozai reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued political, diplomatic and moral support for the people of Kashmir.

He said Pakistan’s leadership and people would not abandon the Kashmiris in their struggle for self-determination. He also stressed the importance of unity, consistent advocacy and peaceful engagement among Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora communities to maintain international attention on the dispute.

Shah Ghulam Qadir, president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and a prominent Kashmiri leader, praised Pakistan’s efforts to raise the Kashmir issue at international forums. Recalling his participation in parliamentary delegations to various capitals, including Ankara and Cape Town, he said he had received positive responses from officials and governments.

Qadir expressed concern that the unresolved dispute continued to pose serious risks to regional peace and stability, calling for renewed international efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement.

Kashmiris’ sacrifices must not go in vain

Azra Dar, Human Rights Commissioner of Nassau County, said the sacrifices made by the Kashmiri people must not go in vain. She called for sustained international attention to their right to self-determination, which, she noted, had been recognised in the context of the United Nations’ engagement with the dispute.

Farooq Tabassum, former principal secretary to the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, said the events of October 27, 1947, had had devastating consequences for the people of Kashmir. He urged world powers, including the United Nations, to intensify efforts to persuade India to allow the Kashmiri people to exercise their right to self-determination.

Sardar Taj Khan, senior vice-chairman of Kashmir Mission USA, thanked Pakistan’s leadership for raising the Kashmir issue at the international level. Addressing the Kashmiri diaspora, he stressed that differences of opinion and strategy should not undermine the community’s shared commitment to the cause.

“Although we may have different opinions and adopt different strategies to resolve the Kashmir conflict, we are members of one family—the nation of Kashmir. We must unite for the greater cause of Kashmir,” he said.

Khan also acknowledged Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to avert a wider conflict in the Middle East and praised its continued advocacy for the rights of the Kashmiri people.

Speakers Urge Diplomatic Efforts for Peaceful, Just Settlement of Kashmir Dispute

Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, chairman of the World Forum for Peace and Justice, addressed historical questions surrounding the circumstances and chronology of the reported signing of the Instrument of Accession in October 1947.

Referring to historical accounts of Maharaja Hari Singh’s movements, the role of Indian officials and the events preceding the arrival of Indian troops, Fai argued that inconsistencies in the available accounts warranted further historical scrutiny.

He cited differing recollections attributed to V.P. Menon and Mehr Chand Mahajan, as well as reports concerning British High Commission records, to question the official chronology of the signing.

Kashmir settlement vital for regional peace and stability

Fai said resolving the Kashmir dispute was not only a matter of justice and the political rights of the Kashmiri people but also an important step towards a more peaceful, stable and prosperous South Asia.

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He added that continued tensions over Kashmir carried significant human, economic and security costs for the region. A peaceful settlement, he argued, would enable both countries to devote greater resources to improving living standards, expanding educational opportunities, strengthening healthcare systems and addressing the social and economic needs of their populations.

Fai urged US President Donald Trump to support international efforts to secure a just and peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

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