The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York adopted with consensus Friday a Pakistan-sponsored resolution, titled 'Universal Realisation of the Right of the Peoples to Self-Determination', which "unequivocally supports the right to self-determination for all peoples under subjugation, alien domination and foreign occupation", including those of Indian-occupied Kashmir.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO), the adoption of the resolution with consensus would provide the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir with hope in their just struggle for self-determination and freedom from oppression and occupation.

The Pakistan-sponsored resolution entitled ‘Universal Realization of the Right of the Peoples to Self-Determination’ was adopted by consensus by the United Nations General Assembly in New York. It was co-sponsored by 72 countries from all regions.

“The resolution unequivocally supports the right of self-determination for all peoples under subjugation, alien domination and foreign occupation. This includes the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” the FO said.

The FO said due to the universal character of the right to self-determination and its continued applicability in situations of foreign occupation and intervention, the resolution secured the support of all UN member states.

“This annual affirmation by the General Assembly serves to preserve the legitimacy of the freedom struggle of peoples under colonial and foreign occupation,” it said.

The FO said the adoption of resolution offered hope that destinies would be decided in accordance with the principles of justice enshrined in the UN Charter, UN resolutions and international law.

The conflict and unrest in Indian-occupied Kashmir has intensified since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014 and won a landslide re-election in 2019. Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party-led government toughened its stance both against Pakistan, as well as, Kashmiri rebels amid rising attacks by Hindu hard-liners against minorities in India, further deepening frustrations among Kashmir’s Muslims.

The valley has been under a security lockdown since the Indian government stripped Kashmiris of the special autonomy they had for seven decades through a rushed presidential order in 2019.