Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said the Kashmir dispute cannot remain unresolved, citing the May 2025 Pakistan-India conflict as a reminder of the risks. He made the remarks while addressing the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Dar said Kashmiris had been seeking the right to self-determination for decades under the framework of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. He also raised concerns about the situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and called for continued international attention to the dispute.
According to Dar, the May 2025 military escalation between Pakistan and India demonstrated the wider security implications of the unresolved Kashmir dispute. The OIC has also linked lasting peace and stability in South Asia to a settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.
Dar also alleged that India was taking measures that could affect the demographic and political situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. He referred to the measures introduced by India following August 5, 2019, which Pakistan has consistently opposed.
The foreign minister further raised concerns about restrictions affecting journalists, political figures and other groups in the territory. Pakistan has repeatedly called for greater international access and monitoring of developments in Jammu and Kashmir, while India has rejected Pakistan’s characterization of the region and maintains its own position on the dispute.
The OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir met in New York during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. The OIC said the group reaffirmed support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and expressed concern about humanitarian, human rights and security conditions in the region.
The Kashmir dispute remains a longstanding issue between Pakistan and India and has continued to feature in diplomatic discussions at the United Nations and the OIC. Pakistan says a settlement should reflect relevant UN Security Council resolutions, while India maintains its position regarding Jammu and Kashmir.
