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Mr. Chairman,
I am exercising this Right of Reply in response to the reference made by the Representative of India in his statement covering the Indian-occupied Kashmir.
Pakistan rejects the Indian statement that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the Union of India. Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory according to several UN Security Council resolutions on the subject and numerous undertakings and statements by the Indian leadership. The Security Council’s demand for free and fair plebiscite under the UN auspices still remains to be implemented.
As regards to the reference of Kashmiris exercising their right to self-determination through elections, it is a fact known to all that elections in the Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir have been rejected not only by the UN Security Council but also by the people of Kashmir and the Kashmiri leadership.
The representative of India has tried to create a linkage between Jammu and Kashmir dispute and eradicating terrorism. As to the references to terrorism, Pakistan's role in fighting terrorism has been acknowledged by the international community. Despite being a victim of terrorism, our resolve to fight this menace has not wavered. However, legitimate struggles of peoples for the right to self-determination cannot be equated with terrorism.
Finally, although the Jammu & Kashmir dispute is an international issue, it is also being addressed bilaterally through the Composite Dialogue. Pakistan has advanced several constructive ideas to resolve it. We await substantive progress towards such resolution.
Pakistan reserves the right to refer to this issue at the UN as necessary.
I thank you.