OIC Calls for Kashmir and Palestine Resolution: Ambassador

New York: (Web Desk) – “It is apparent that war and conflicts pose greater challenges to socio-economic development. This is evident in the attendant loss of lives among the civilian population and the vulnerable segments, including women, children, youth and people living with disabilities, and the displacement of the civil population, coupled with the extensive damage to physical and social infrastructure,” this was stated by Ambassador Hameed Opeloyeru, OIC Permanent Observer to the United Nations during a side-event on the margins of 64^th commission on Social Development at Room 11 of the United Nations headquarter.

Ambassador Opeloyeru added that the OIC maintains a strong peacebuilding support architecture. This is evident in the mandate of its Contact Groups on Palestine, Muslims in Europe, Rohingya, Jammu and Kashmir, and Afghanistan. Ambassador Opeloyyeru underscored the OIC peacebuilding and social development efforts, aimed at addressing the issues bearing on restoration of the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people, the definitive settlement of the Jammu-Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions, and the restoration of the national rights of the Rohingya people of Myanmar, among other flashpoints in OIC member states.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, who also presided over the event, said that for the people of IIOJK, occupation is a permanent condition spanning over more than seven decades, which has affected every facet of their daily lives: from education to employment, to mobility, to freedom of expression, and even to hope itself. Describing Kashmiris’ lived reality under the shadow of 900,000 Indian occupation forces as one of interrupted childhoods, constrained aspirations, and a future held hostage by uncertainty, he said that when dignity is denied and voices silenced, development becomes an illusion rather than a promise.

Ambassador Asim added that civilian life in Jammu and Kashmir has been subjected to extraordinary militarization. “Enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, and pervasive impunity have left families fractured and communities traumatized. These practices have inflicted deep psychological scars, eroded trust, and damaged the social fabric of the Kashmiri society,” Ambassador Asim stated.

Ambassador Ahmet Yildiz, Turkish Permanent Representative and the Chair of OIC-CFM, said, “we advocate a fair and lasting resolution for the Kashmir issue in line with the UN Charter and relevant UN Resolutions that would restore peace and stability in the region through dialogue between the parties.” He said that achieving peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir will, at the same time, contribute to the overall prosperity and sustainable development in South Asia and beyond.

Ambassador Yildiz cited Jammu and Kashmir as one of the examples of conflict-affected regions where almost eight decades of dispute has left a huge social development challenge for the Kashmiri people. He said that prolonged tensions, ongoing human rights violations, economic hardships and infrastructural deficiencies in the region are further deepening the humanitarian dimension of the problem.

“As we observe Kashmir Solidarity Day today, we would like to emphasize that the expectations of the Kashmiris must be fulfilled for a lasting peace. The resolution of the Kashmir issue is vital for ensuring social and economic development for Kashmiri people,” Ambassador Yildiz added.

Ambassador Tofig F. Musayev, Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the UN, highlighted the severe social and humanitarian consequences of conflict and occupation, including displacement, food insecurity, disrupted education, and lasting psychological harm, particularly to children. He maintained that Azerbaijan has always stood with the people of Palestine and people of Kashmir to achieve their right to self-determination as mandated under UN Security Council resolutions.

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman, World Forum for Peace and Justice, stressed that sustainable social development in Jammu and Kashmir is impossible under conditions of prolonged occupation, militarization, and insecurity. He said that while the political and historical dimensions of the Kashmir conflict are widely documented, its social development implications are not. Frequent curfews, communication shutdowns, and the ever-present fear of escalation between two nuclear-armed states have disrupted everyday life. Compounding this situation is the absence of accountability, as Indian army operates under legal immunity provided by laws such as the (PSA) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). These conditions undermine education of Kashmiri children, healthcare, cultural life, social cohesion, and mental well-being.

Dr. Fai added that the constant disturbances in Kashmir have fundamentally changed the lives of children. The very concept of childhood has been reshaped by fear and insecurity. Tens of thousands of children have lost one or both parents, exposing them to psychological trauma, social stigma, and economic hardship. According to London-based Save the Children, the number of orphans in Kashmir increased from 35,000 in 1995 to 80,000 in 2007.

Fai maintained that violence against women remains one of the serious impediments to social development in Kashmir. Despite extensive documentation by UN Special Rapporteurs on Violence against Women, international NGO’s including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and other organizations, violence against women continues with impunity. “Half-widows”—women whose husbands have disappeared but have not been declared dead—face economic hardships and social stigma. How many half widows are there? According to the U.S. State Department, there are 8,000 to 10,000 perosn who have disappeared in Kashmir. Their wives are known as half widows.

Fai stressed that the Kunan-Poshpora case remains symptomatic: the entire village was branded as the “village of raped women,” leaving survivors socially detested and unable to rebuild their lives. Tamana, gave birth to her son three days later with broken arm. In another documented case, a woman named Shakeela was abandoned by her husband after giving birth to a child conceived through rape, illustrating how patriarchal norms further compound trauma.

Emphasizing the economic and developmental consequences of militarization, Fai said that according to the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the region suffered economic losses of approximately ₹50,000 crore (USD 5.5 billion) in just two years following 5 August 2019. When projected over a longer period, losses are estimated to exceed ₹200,000 crore (USD 27.5 billion)—figures that do not account for losses incurred since 1947 due to the unresolved nature of the conflict.

“If the Commission for Social Development is genuinely committed to its mandate, it should persuade the Government of India to allow the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and the Special Rapporteur on the Sexual Exploitation of Children to visit Kashmir, conduct an independent assessment, and report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva,” Dr. Fai suggested.

Dr. Abdulhamid Siyam, a Palestinian academic, writer and journalist, drew a direct parallel between Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, describing both as enduring symbols of life under occupation and denial of self-determination. Professor Siyam added that if we don’t have the political will to protect the infrastructure of life—schools, hospitals, and legal identity—then we are merely holding conferences to document a tragedy we are choosing not to stop. Real solidarity requires accountability. Anything less is complicity.

When Speaking from lived experience in West Bank, Prof. Siyam stressed that meaningful social development is impossible under occupation, displacement, and systematic societal dismantling. Referring to Gaza and the West Bank, he highlighted mass displacement, denial of education, pervasive movement restrictions, daily humiliation, and entrenched impunity for violence.

Aamer Ahmad Atozai, Consulate General of Pakistan in New York said that as we mark Kashmir Solidarity Day, Pakistan recalls the plight of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, who have endured decades of repression, human rights violations, and denial of their fundamental rights. Mr. Atozai stressed that Pakistan remains committed to advocating for a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the will of the Kashmiri people and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. We will continue to raise our voice for those whose voices are silenced, and to work with partners to ensure that social development efforts truly serve the most vulnerable.

In closing, Consul General acknowledged the presence of members of the Kashmiri community at the United Nations event. He said that many of you carry not only the memory of your homeland, but also the lived reality of separation, loss, and prolonged uncertainty. Families have been divided, livelihoods disrupted, and generations have grown up amid restrictions that no society should accept as normal. Despite this, the Kashmiri people have demonstrated remarkable resilience and dignity, preserving their identity, culture, and peaceful aspirations. Your presence here today is a powerful reminder that this issue is not abstract—it affects real lives, real families, and real futures.

Ms. Saima Saleem, Counsellor at the Pakistan Mission and an accomplished diplomat was emcee of the event.