India on Friday described as “unwarranted” and “regrettable” the remarks by UN General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir that Pakistan should raise the Kashmir issue more forcefully and that all parties should refrain from steps that affect the status of Jammu and Kashmir. Bozkir, a former Turkish diplomat who assumed office last September, made the comments at a Press interaction with Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad on Thursday. Bozkir, the first Turkish national to preside over the General Assembly, was on an official visit to Pakistan during which he also met Prime Minister Imran Khan reports the Hindustan Times. READ: India invites applications for citizenship from non-Muslim refugees from neighbouring countries “We express our strong opposition to the unwarranted references made with respect to the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir by the President of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA) Volkan Bozkir during his recent visit to Pakistan,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. Bozkir’s remarks that “Pakistan is ‘duty bound’ to raise the Kashmir issue at the UN more strongly are unacceptable”, and there is no basis for comparing the situation in Jammu and Kashmir to other global situations, Bagchi said. READ: Rohingyas rights to return, citizenship must be respected: UNGA President    “When an incumbent President of the UN General Assembly makes misleading and prejudiced remarks, he does great disservice to the office he occupies. The PGA’s behaviour is truly regrettable and surely diminishes his standing on the global platform,” he added. At the press interaction in Islamabad, Bozkir said Qureshi had compared the Palestine and Kashmir issues. He also noted that Palestine has more “political wind” behind it, whereas the Kashmir issue doesn’t have the “same enlarged political wind behind it”. Noting that it is Pakistan’s duty to bring the Kashmir issue to the UN “more strongly”, he said a meeting could be held on the matter if a group of countries submit an application. Bozkir added, “As an impartial president of the General Assembly, I must also reiterate that the UN position on Jammu and Kashmir is governed by the UN Charter and applicable Security Council resolutions. “India and Pakistan’s Simla Agreement of 1972...states that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir is to be settled by peaceful means in accordance with the UN Charter and this is, I think, very important that we must all remember.” Bozkir further said, “I think both parties, all parties, must refrain from taking steps that could affect the status of Jammu and Kashmir. This is I think the very important part of how we look at the case.” READ: UNGA President pushes for Covid-19 vaccines for all In August 2019, India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and split the state into two union territories. Pakistan opposed the move, which Indian officials said was aimed at increasing development, curbing terrorism and bringing the region into the mainstream. India has rejected Pakistan’s criticism of these developments as interference in its internal matters.

President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly Volkan Bozkır will visit Bangladesh and Pakistan from May 25 to 27. "Looking forward to my upcoming official visit to Bangladesh and Pakistan on 25-27 May to discuss the multilateral system and shared challenges," he tweeted. In Dhaka, Bozkir will be received by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will also meet him during the visit. The President will also deliver speech at the Foreign Services Academy, said the UN office in Dhaka. His speech will address the current international context – with a focus on global crises and emergencies – and reflect on the state of multilateralism and the United Nations system. The President will also meet the United Nations Country Team. While in Bangladesh, the President will also travel to Cox’s Bazar to meet  Rohingya refugees.  He will observe the vital work undertaken by the UN Resident Coordinator and the UNHCR Representative.  

Access to water is not just about “liquid in a bottle” but instead touches on universal issues such as dignity, opportunity and equality, the UN General Assembly President said on Thursday, in opening a high-level meeting on ensuring water and sanitation are available to all.