The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday adopted, by consensus, a Pakistan-sponsored resolution reaffirming the inalienable right to self-determination for peoples living under colonial and foreign occupation.
The move signals strong global support for justice and freedom for oppressed populations.
The resolution, titled “Universal Realisation of the Right of the Peoples to Self-Determination,” was adopted during the UNGA’s 80th session.
Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN said the consensus adoption reflects worldwide recognition of the rights of peoples facing colonialism, alien domination, or foreign occupation.
Focus on Kashmir and Palestine
The resolution highlights the aspirations of the people in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Palestine, urging international attention to their legitimate struggles for freedom and dignity.
Pakistan stressed that the continued denial of self-determination undermines peace efforts in both South Asia and the Middle East.
Diplomats noted that adoption by consensus — without a vote — demonstrates global acknowledgment that denying self-determination remains a root cause of conflict.
Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, called self-determination “not merely a historical aspiration, but an enduring obligation” of the international community.
Addressing UNGA on colonialism
On the International Day against Colonialism, Ambassador Jadoon emphasized that lasting peace cannot be achieved while denying Palestinians their right to self-determination.
Regarding Kashmir, he reminded the Assembly that the issue is internationally recognized and backed by UN Security Council resolutions, stressing that a just resolution is key to durable peace in South Asia.
Marking the 65th anniversary of Resolution 1514 (XV) — the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples — Ambassador Jadoon noted that decolonization extends beyond Non-Self-Governing Territories to peoples under foreign domination.
He warned that the promise of resolution 1514 remains unfulfilled, posing ongoing challenges to international peace and security.
Aligning with Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Pakistan reaffirmed that colonial domination violates fundamental human rights and contradicts the UN Charter.
Ambassador Jadoon stressed that the right to self-determination is universal, inalienable, and must be applied consistently, without political selectivity.
Pakistan urged member states to uphold international law, implement UN resolutions consistently, and eradicate colonialism in all forms.
The resolution reinforces the UN’s role as a beacon of hope and justice for oppressed peoples worldwide.
Pakistan also urges respect for Syria’s sovereignty at UN
Meanwhile, Pakistan has strongly emphasized the importance of respecting Syria’s sovereignty during a UN Security Council session, calling for collective efforts to support peace, reconstruction, and political stability in the war-torn country.
During the Security Council meeting, Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative Usman Jadoon highlighted that Syria entered a historic phase last year, presenting opportunities for reconstruction, reconciliation, and national unity.
He stressed that the international community’s involvement is vital for restoring stability and supporting the Syrian political leadership.
Jadoon welcomed the Security Council’s recent visit to Syria, describing it as an important initiative that reinforces continuous engagement with the Syrian people.
