At the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on September 27, 2025, the Kashmir conflict once again took center stage, propelled by impassioned appeals from Kashmiri leaders and a surge of diplomatic support from both Turkey and Pakistan. Altaf Hussain Wani, a prominent Kashmiri rights activist and Chairman of the Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR), delivered a forceful address, lauding Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for their steadfast backing of the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
Wani’s praise for President Erdoğan was unequivocal. Speaking before the international assembly, he asserted that Erdoğan’s recent remarks at the United Nations General Assembly “were a true reflection of the aspirations and desires of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.” According to Minute Mirror, Wani underscored that Erdoğan’s advocacy had once again spotlighted the Kashmir cause on the world’s highest diplomatic platform. Such endorsement, he argued, was vital for keeping the decades-old conflict in the global consciousness and for rallying international support around the plight of Kashmiris.
But Turkey was not the only nation to receive accolades from Kashmiri representatives. Wani, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir National Front, extended heartfelt gratitude to Pakistan, specifically hailing Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s “thundering demand for self-determination, accountability for war crimes, and an end to occupation” during his own speech at the UN General Assembly. As reported by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Wani took to social media to proclaim, “Salute to you, Prime Minister Sharif, for raising two just causes—Kashmir and Palestine—before the world body. Your thundering demand for self-determination, accountability for war crimes, and an end to occupation echoed from Srinagar to Gaza.”
Wani’s praise for Pakistan’s diplomatic stance was effusive. He described Islamabad’s approach as “diplomacy with spine—Pakistan stands taller,” and credited the country for its unwavering support and fearless advocacy on behalf of the Kashmiri people. “Be it Kashmir or Palestine, Pakistan has consistently championed these just causes at every international forum,” Wani said, emphasizing that the country’s principled stance reflects an “unshakable commitment, solidarity, and deep sense of brotherhood with the oppressed people of Kashmir and Palestine.”
The UNHRC session in Geneva was attended by a notable Kashmiri delegation, which included Raja Muhammad Sajjad Khan, Meherunnisa Rehman, and Dr. Shagufta alongside Wani. The group collectively called for constructive international involvement in resolving the Kashmir issue in accordance with United Nations resolutions. Their message was clear: the world’s major powers must step up and use their political and diplomatic influence to encourage genuine dialogue and end the protracted conflict.
“Without resolving the legitimate political and human rights of the Kashmiri people, the region cannot look forward to enduring stability,” Wani declared at the session, advocating for a just and peaceful settlement as the only path to lasting peace, stability, and prosperity in South Asia. He stressed that it was the “moral duty of powerful governments to make certain that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are not deprived of their internationally accepted right to self-determination.”
The conflict over Kashmir remains one of the most intractable and long-standing disputes in South Asia, dating back to 1947. India maintains that the region is an integral part of its territory, while Pakistan and many Kashmiri factions insist on the implementation of UN resolutions that call for a plebiscite to determine the region’s future. Over the decades, the dispute has sparked several wars and persistent political instability between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Human rights organizations, both regional and international, have repeatedly criticized restrictions on civil liberties and alleged abuses in the area, further complicating the prospects for peace.
Wani’s remarks at the UNHRC were not only a call to action but also a recognition of the importance of international solidarity. He specifically thanked the OIC for its consistent support, noting that the pronouncements of Muslim-majority countries have played a crucial role in raising global awareness about both the human and political dimensions of the Kashmir dispute. “The world must live up to its responsibility. Justice to Kashmiris is not only necessary for the region’s peace but for the maintenance of international law and human rights as well,” Wani concluded, as reported by Minute Mirror.
Meanwhile, the intersection of the Kashmir and Palestine issues was brought sharply into focus by Prime Minister Sharif’s speech at the UN General Assembly. Wani drew parallels between the two struggles, highlighting Pakistan’s consistent advocacy for both causes. He expressed deep appreciation for the people and government of Pakistan, stating that their support “reflects its unshakable commitment, solidarity, and deep sense of brotherhood with the oppressed people of Kashmir and Palestine.”
The Kashmiri delegation’s presence at the UNHRC, coupled with the recent diplomatic maneuvers at the UN General Assembly, underscored a renewed push to keep the Kashmir issue at the forefront of international debate. The calls for self-determination, accountability, and an end to occupation—echoing from Srinagar to Gaza—demonstrated a clear desire among Kashmiri leaders and their supporters to frame the conflict not just as a regional dispute, but as a matter of global human rights and international law.
Observers note that such high-level endorsements from figures like President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Sharif can serve to galvanize international attention and potentially spur diplomatic initiatives. However, the path to a peaceful resolution remains fraught with challenges, given the entrenched positions of the parties involved and the complex geopolitical dynamics of South Asia. Still, for Wani and the Kashmiri delegation, the recent developments at the UN represent a glimmer of hope—a sign that, with sustained international engagement, justice and peace may yet be within reach for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
As the world watches, the voices from Geneva and New York remind us that the struggle for self-determination and human rights in Kashmir continues to resonate far beyond the region’s borders, demanding not just attention, but meaningful action from the global community.