The Kashmir dispute, one of the world’s most intractable and long-standing conflicts, returned to the center stage of international diplomacy as global leaders gathered in New York for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2025. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a widely noted address, called for the resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, underscoring the right of self-determination for the Kashmiri people. "The issue of Kashmir should be resolved on the basis of resolutions of the UN for the best for our brothers and sisters in Kashmir through dialogue," Erdogan urged, as reported by 24NewsHD TV channel. He emphasized that "the preservation of peace and stability in South Asia is of utmost importance."
President Erdogan's remarks resonated with a broader chorus of voices at the UN, as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir convened on the sidelines of the assembly. The meeting, chaired by OIC Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Yousef M. Al-Dobeay, brought together representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Niger, Azerbaijan, and a delegation of the True Representatives of the Kashmiri People (according to Kashmir Media Service and Associated Press of Pakistan).
At the heart of the discussions were deep concerns over the ongoing political and security situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The Contact Group examined reports of deteriorating human rights conditions, including intensified repression, demographic changes, and arbitrary detentions since the Indian government’s controversial actions in August 2019. These measures, condemned by multiple OIC member states, have included the imposition of draconian laws, the banning of political parties, and large-scale detentions of Kashmiri activists and dissenters.
Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Foreign Affairs, delivered a pointed briefing to the gathering. He expressed gratitude to the OIC and its member states for their consistent support of the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. Fatemi condemned India’s attempts to entrench its occupation through "draconian laws, repression, and demographic engineering," and highlighted that "human rights abuses and arbitrary detentions in the occupied territory had intensified since August 2019." He stressed that "sustainable peace in South Asia hinges on the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute through dialogue in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions." Fatemi also called on the OIC to press India to "end its state repression, release political prisoners, repeal black laws, and allow the Kashmiri people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination."
The mood among OIC member states was one of solidarity and urgency. Delegations reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir remains a vital priority on the OIC’s agenda, reiterating unwavering support for the just struggle of the Kashmiri people. The Joint Communique adopted at the meeting reaffirmed this solidarity, stating the group’s "commitment to advancing their cause at international forums" and urging "renewed efforts toward an early, peaceful resolution of the dispute." (APP and Kashmir Media Service)
The backdrop to these diplomatic maneuvers was a recent spike in tensions between India and Pakistan. According to The Express Tribune, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had, just a day prior, suggested that Operation Sindhoor—India’s military response to an attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025—was merely paused, not ended. Singh hinted at the possibility of further phases of the operation, with the stated aim of taking control of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The Pahalgam attack, which left 51 Pakistanis dead, triggered a swift Pakistani military response (Operation Bunyanum Marsoos), before a ceasefire was brokered by U.S. President Trump.
The OIC Contact Group’s Joint Communique expressed "deep concern over the recent military escalation in the South Asia region, including the unjustified strikes carried out on multiple locations in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir." The group called for "maximum restraint and avoidance of actions that would destabilize the region." The crackdown by Indian authorities in IIOJK following the Pahalgam attack, including the arrest of around 2,800 persons and the demolition of about three dozen houses, was condemned as a reprisal measure. The Communique also highlighted the ongoing campaign to confiscate properties belonging to Kashmiri activists and the banning of numerous Kashmiri political parties.
India’s heavy military presence in the region remains a flashpoint. As reported by The Express Tribune, India maintains approximately 700,000 troops in the Kashmir Valley, making it one of the most militarized zones in the world. In addition, reports surfaced of a deportation campaign targeting Muslims, with allegations that 1,900 people were expelled to Bangladesh (The Washington Post).
The OIC Contact Group did not mince words in rejecting "illegal and unilateral actions taken by India on 5 August 2019," stressing that "any electoral exercise in IIOJK, pursuant to the Indian Constitution, could not serve as a substitute to the grant of the right to self-determination to the people of Jammu & Kashmir." The group urged India to "improve the human rights situation in IIOJK, release all Kashmiri political prisoners, lift the ban on the outlawed Kashmiri political parties, repeal all restrictive and draconian laws, and implement the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir." Furthermore, the OIC’s Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission was requested to dispatch a fact-finding mission to Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the Line of Control to obtain firsthand information about the situation on the ground.
Throughout these deliberations, the theme of dialogue and international engagement remained prominent. President Erdogan’s UNGA speech echoed this sentiment: “We are pleased with the ceasefire achieved following the tensions last April between Pakistan and India, the tension which had escalated into a conflict,” he said, adding, “It is important to see a cooperation between the two countries when it comes to counter terrorism.” Erdogan insisted that "dialogue is the only way forward to resolve the issue," reiterating the need for a peaceful settlement that respects the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and regional stability.
Pakistan’s diplomatic presence at the UNGA was robust, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar attending the session in New York. According to diplomatic sources cited by The Express Tribune, Sharif was also scheduled for a brief visit to Washington for a meeting with President Trump, underscoring the international dimensions and high stakes of the Kashmir issue.
As the OIC Contact Group’s Joint Communique was formally adopted, the message was clear: the Kashmir dispute remains a top priority for the Muslim world and a test for the international community’s commitment to peace, human rights, and self-determination. The coming months may reveal whether renewed diplomatic momentum can break the impasse—or whether the region will remain locked in a cycle of tension and tragedy.