UN Addresses Kashmir Query From Palestinian Journalist Amid Unrest in PoK

After a question from Palestinian journalist Abdul Hamid during a briefing on India’s decision to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.

Hamid questioned UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s position on New Delhi’s 2019 decision, alleging that the move had changed the political status of the region and amounted to a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Responding to the query, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said the organisation’s position on Kashmir remained unchanged.

“You’re certainly aware of the Security Council’s resolutions dating back to 1949 concerning the status of Kashmir, and those resolutions have not changed.”

Haq added that the UN had also raised concerns regarding the protection of human rights in the region.

“Regarding our concerns, you’ll have seen what was expressed, including by the High Commission for Human Rights, regarding our concerns that all basic rights are respected for the people of Kashmir.”

The UN’s position refers to resolutions adopted by the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP), including the January 5, 1949 resolution that outlined a framework for a proposed plebiscite in Kashmir.

India maintains that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of the country and rejects any attempt to internationalise the issue. New Delhi has consistently opposed third-party mediation, stating that matters related to the region must be addressed bilaterally.

India has also maintained that parts of the former state remain under Pakistan’s “illegal and forcible occupation.”

The Kashmir issue was raised at the UN amid unrest in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where protests over rising living costs, governance issues and political grievances have led to clashes and casualties.

The UN Human Rights Office had earlier expressed concern over the situation ahead of legislative elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. On July 17, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, through spokesperson Jeremy Laurence, called for restraint and urged authorities to conduct prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into the deaths of protesters and security personnel.

The UN also voiced concern over restrictions imposed on public gatherings, internet access and the activities of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), saying such measures could affect rights related to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

It called for meaningful and inclusive political dialogue to address local grievances and restore stability in the region.

The exchange at the UN briefing brought the Kashmir issue back into focus, with the organisation reaffirming its established position while highlighting the need for respect for human rights and dialogue.