On September 25, 2025, the decades-old Kashmir dispute once again took center stage at the United Nations, as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir convened on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. With senior delegates representing Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Niger in attendance, the group called for intensified efforts to achieve a peaceful, equitable, and sustainable resolution of the conflict—one that aligns with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, according to Kashmir Media Service.
The meeting, chaired by OIC Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Yusuf Al-Dubaie, echoed a growing sense of urgency. OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha underscored the gravity of the situation, describing a just and lasting solution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute as essential for peace and stability in South Asia and beyond. He warned that the region’s volatility underscored its status as a nuclear flashpoint, urging the international community to take serious note of the risks.
Ambassador Al-Dubaie, who has visited Azad Jammu and Kashmir multiple times in his capacity as the OIC Special Envoy, briefed participants on his engagements with Kashmiri leadership, including the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and successive AJK administrations. His remarks highlighted the ongoing dialogue and the importance of keeping the concerns of Kashmiris at the forefront of international discussions.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, in a statement delivered by Minister of State Tariq Fatemi, painted a stark picture of the situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He described what he called a catastrophic human rights crisis since India’s unilateral actions on August 5, 2019. Dar pointed to demographic engineering, gerrymandering, manipulation of voter rolls, and the introduction of new domicile and land laws as part of what he termed New Delhi’s "colonial project"—a campaign, he argued, that systematically disenfranchises, disempowers, and disinherits Kashmiris in gross violation of international law.
"The Kashmir dispute remains the root cause of instability in South Asia," Dar asserted, urging the OIC to leverage its political and economic influence to pressure India. He called for an end to repression, the release of political prisoners, the repeal of draconian laws, the withdrawal of occupation forces from civilian areas, and impartial investigations into alleged human rights abuses.
Other voices at the meeting reinforced these calls. Turkiye’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Berris Ekinci, described the Kashmir conflict as one of the oldest unresolved issues on the UN agenda. She reaffirmed Ankara’s solidarity with the Kashmiri people and stressed that a peaceful and lasting solution reflecting their aspirations was vital for regional stability. Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Elnur Mammadov, pledged to raise awareness of what he described as Indian atrocities in Kashmir and called on India to honor its bilateral and multilateral commitments, including those enshrined in UN resolutions. The Saudi delegate, meanwhile, urged the OIC to devise a comprehensive strategy for resolving the dispute through peaceful dialogue and ensuring the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
Civil society representatives also played a prominent role. Dr. Farhan Mujahid Chak, Secretary-General of Kashmir Civitas, warned of what he called a growing alliance between Hindutva forces and Zionism, describing it as a systemic global threat. He listed six urgent dangers emanating from the current BJP regime: the Hindutva-Zionist alliance, infiltration in Muslim states, neo-imperial exploitation in Africa, nuclear brinkmanship, proliferation of hazardous materials, and global Islamophobia. Chak argued that India’s actions in Kashmir constitute grave breaches of international humanitarian law that must be confronted collectively.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary-General of the World Kashmir Awareness Forum, drew a parallel between the struggles of Kashmir and Palestine, stating, "Kashmir and Palestine are the darkest stains on humanity's conscience and removing them is a collective responsibility of the international community." He accused India of waging economic warfare against Kashmiris, including the deliberate strangulation of the fruit industry by blocking trucks on highways. Dr. Fai proposed six concrete steps for the OIC: keeping Kashmir high on the UN agenda, promoting mediation with Kashmiri participation, providing safe havens for the diaspora, granting scholarships to Kashmiri students, pressing India to rescind draconian laws—especially the domicile law designed to alter demography—and demanding the unconditional release of political prisoners such as Yasin Malik, Shabbir Shah, Masarrat Aalam Butt, and Aasiya Andrabi.
Dr. Fai concluded his remarks with a pointed appeal: "Only by matching its moral duty with political action will the OIC fulfill its commitment to justice for the people of Jammu and Kashmir."
Beyond the UN corridors, support for the Kashmiri cause continued to resonate across the globe. In London, Raja Najabat Hussain, recipient of the Sitara-e-Pakistan and Chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir Self-Determination Movement International, praised the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation’s (OPF) positive work on the Kashmir issue. During a special dinner hosted by OPF Chairman Syed Qamar Raza, Hussain expressed hope that the OPF initiative would help unite the Kashmiri and Pakistani communities worldwide. He emphasized that his organization, along with thousands of volunteers across the UK, remains committed to a peaceful struggle for Kashmir’s freedom. In a stinging critique, Hussain declared, "India is the world’s largest terrorist, whose hands are stained with the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent Kashmiris." He reiterated his conviction that resolving the plights of Kashmir and Palestine is a collective responsibility of the international community.
Meanwhile, in Washington, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman of the World Forum for Peace & Justice, welcomed Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s statement at the United Nations. In his address to the UN General Assembly’s 80th session on September 23, 2025, President Erdogan called for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute through dialogue and on the basis of UN resolutions that grant the right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir. Dr. Fai expressed gratitude, stating, "We are encouraged by his consistent support to our cause. Such unwavering commitment deserves the utmost appreciation from the nation of Kashmir." He noted that Erdogan’s advocacy has inspired hope among millions in the region, adding that the Turkish leader has been steadfast in supporting a resolution through negotiation and dialogue.
The events of this week underscore the enduring complexity and passion surrounding the Kashmir issue. With the OIC Contact Group renewing its call for action, civil society intensifying its advocacy, and global leaders like President Erdogan lending support at the highest levels, the dispute remains a flashpoint with far-reaching implications. The world continues to watch, as Kashmir’s future—and the peace of an entire region—hangs in the balance.
