By: Farooq Mirza
The Consulate General of Pakistan in New York, in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations, hosted a side event titled “Leaving No One Behind: Social Development Challenges in Conflict-Affected and Occupied Territories” on the margins of the 64th Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD64) at the United Nations Headquarters. The event was convened in observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day to highlight the social, economic, and human development challenges faced by populations living under foreign occupation and in conflict-affected regions, with particular focus on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
In his keynote remarks, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, underscored that sustainable social development cannot be realized in situations of prolonged conflict and occupation. He emphasized that the denial of fundamental rights, restrictions on political freedoms, and socio-economic marginalization in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have gravely undermined inclusive development.
Ambassador Ahmad reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled position that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute must be resolved in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the inalienable right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people. He stressed that the international community bears a collective responsibility to uphold international law and ensure that the commitment to “leaving no one behind” is meaningfully implemented.
The panel discussion featured Ambassador Ahmet Yildiz, Permanent Representative of Türkiye and Chair of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers; Ambassador Hameed Ajibaiye Opeloyeru, Permanent Observer of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation; Mr. Abdul Hamid Siyam, Palestinian journalist; Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman of the World Forum for Peace & Justice; and a Kashmiri representative. The distinguished panelists highlighted the human and developmental costs of protracted conflicts, drawing attention to restrictions on civil liberties, limited access to education and healthcare, and the broader socio-economic impact on affected populations. The speakers underscored the importance of multilateral engagement, adherence to international humanitarian and human rights law, and sustained international attention to unresolved disputes.
In his concluding remarks, Consul General Mr. Aamer Ahmed Atozai emphasized that Kashmir remains a pressing humanitarian and human rights issue with direct implications for social development and regional stability. He reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering diplomatic, political, and moral support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and called upon the international community to uphold justice, human dignity, and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The Consul General stressed that a just and lasting resolution of the dispute is essential to ensuring peace, stability, and inclusive development in the region.
