THIS refers to the United Nations General Assembly resolution asking the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to consider consequences for Israel over its occupation of Palestinian territories, and to determine the ‘legal conse-quences’ of ongoing violations of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, and attempts by the occupier to alter the demographic composition, character and status of occupied Jerusalem.

This is definitely a move in the right direction, but does make one wonder if this is the only violation of the right to self-determination; a case where an occupier country is trying to radically alter the demographic composition, status and character of an illegally occupied territory.

Has the UN Secretary-General António Guterres forgot the dispute between Pakistan and India that happens to be the oldest unresolved issue on the UN agenda? Is it too difficult for the secretary-general to observe the stark similarities in the actions taken by India and Israel? In fact, India and Israel are working in tandem with the blessings of the hypocrite West, led by the United States.

Logically thinking, if Israel’s case can be taken to The Hague, why cannot a UN resolution call upon the ICJ to determine the consequences for the state of India over its completely illegitimate occupation of Jammu and Kashmir, and over its various measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, status and character of the occupied valley?

Abid Mahmud Ansari
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2023