United Nations: Pakistan has called for urgent measures to address the plight of missing persons in conflict zones and occupied territories, focusing on areas from Palestine to Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The aim is to account for every missing individual, restore family connections, and uphold the fundamental rights of those lost amid conflict.

According to Radio Pakistan, this appeal was made by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad. He delivered a national statement during a UN Security Council briefing on the implementation of Resolution 2474, which tackles the pressing issue of missing persons in armed conflicts.

Ambassador Ahmad highlighted that India recently used a terrorist incident as a pretext to detain over 2,000 individuals, aiming to further suppress the Kashmiris’ struggle for self-determination. He also noted the emergence of unmarked and unknown graves of thousands of victims in IIOJK in recent years.

The ambassador pointed to investigations revealing that many victims are first disappeared by Indian occupation forces and subsequently tortured to death or summarily executed. He emphasized that the issue of missing persons and enforced disappearances is a stark reality of the Kashmir conflict, which has persisted for nearly eight decades.

Despite calls for investigations and accountability, Ambassador Ahmad stated that the plight of missing persons in IIOJK continues to worsen. He stressed that the issue reflects unresolved conflicts that require urgent attention and resolution.