UNSC

Situation in Kashmir

Dear Delegates,

We are pleased to welcome you all to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) committee of
Primus MUN 2024. As chairs, we anticipate intense debate and strong arguments to be brought
up during the conference. We aim to ensure this committee allows you to gain an enriching
learning experience while being fun and enjoyable. Our agenda for this year is “Situation in
Kashmir”

The Primus MUN is a two-day-long conference that allows you to enhance your public speaking
abilities, socialize, and have fun. While the UNSC is a rigorous committee, we urge you to be
respectful and kind to your fellow delegates inside and outside the committee.

Being a delegate of the UNSC, you must bear in mind the responsibility you have to represent
your country to the best of your abilities. With, the UNSC being very active in the present day
due to several civil wars, crises, and security threats to certain countries, it is of the utmost
importance to engage in active discussion with the aforementioned agenda.

Over the two days of this committee, you as a delegate are expected to be thorough and well
prepared concerning the agenda and your country portfolio. We are expecting high-level debate
and prompt discussions to ensure we have a successful committee in the end.

Looking forward to having you all on our committee, and we hope you find this background
guide useful to commence your research.

We wish you the best of luck and a productive and exciting conference.

Yours Sincerely,

Executive Board, UNSC

Lekhya Bandapalli, Sanjana Vijayavel.

Introduction to the UNSC

MANDATE

The United Nations Charter established six main organs of the United Nations, including the Security
Council. It gives primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security to the Security
Council, which may meet whenever peace is threatened.

According to the Charter, the United Nations has four purposes:

1. to maintain international peace and security;

2. to develop friendly relations among nations;
3. to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights;
4. and to be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations.

All members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council.
While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to member states, only the Security
Council has the power to make decisions that member states are then obligated to implement under the
Charter.

MAINTAINING PEACE AND SECURITY

When a complaint concerning a threat to peace is brought before it, the Council’s first action is usually to
recommend that the parties try to reach an agreement by peaceful means. The Council may:

1. set forth principles for such an agreement;

2. undertake investigation and mediation, in some cases;
3. dispatch a mission;
4. appoint special envoys; or
5. request the Secretary-General to use his good offices to achieve a pacific settlement of the
dispute.1

When a dispute leads to hostilities, the Council’s primary concern is to bring them to an end as soon as
possible. In that case, the Council may:

1. issue ceasefire directives that can help prevent an escalation of the conflict;
2. dispatch military observers or a peacekeeping force to help reduce tensions, separate opposing
forces and establish a calm in which peaceful settlements may be sought.

Beyond this, the Council may opt for enforcement measures, including:

1. economic sanctions, arms embargoes, financial penalties and restrictions, and travel bans;
2. severance of diplomatic relations;
3. blockade;
4. or even collective military action.

A chief concern is to focus action on those responsible for the policies or practices condemned by the
international community while minimizing the impact of the measures taken on other parts of the
population and economy.

1
“ UNSC.” UN, [Link] Accessed 2 Jul 2024
ORGANIZATION

The Security Council held its first session on 17 January 1946 at Church House, Westminster, London.
Since its first meeting, the Security Council has taken permanent residence at the United Nations
Headquarters in New York City. It also traveled to many cities, holding sessions in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
in 1972, in Panama City, Panama, and Geneva, Switzerland, in 1990.

A representative of each of its members must be present at all times at UN Headquarters so that the
Security Council can meet at any time as the need arises.

POSITION PAPERS

The background guide offers a framework and structure for further research on your issue and analyzing
your country's position. We encourage delegates to delve further into the issues and come up with
innovative solutions that go beyond the background information.

Position Paper is an opportunity for delegates to summarize their research in preparation for the
conference. Delegates are strongly encouraged to write position papers on each topic. Below is the
general structure for Papers that can be adapted depending on your country and committee:

1. Topic background: include a brief summary of the topic and outline your country's past
involvement and experience with the issue.
2. Country stance: Explain your country's policies and position on the issue, including relevant
statistics and research.
3. Propose solutions: propose and provide further details on possible solutions and identify and
analyze potential benefits and drawbacks. Remember that your solutions should reflect your
country's politics.

The background guide offers a framework and structure for further research on your issue and analyzing
your country's position. We encourage delegates to delve further into the issues and come up with
innovative solutions that go beyond the background information.

Position Paper is an opportunity for delegates to summarize their research in preparation for the
conference. Delegates are strongly encouraged to write position papers on each topic. Below is the
general structure for Papers that can be adapted depending on your country and committee:

4. Topic background: include a summary of the topic and outline your country's past involvement
and experience with the issue.
5. Country stance: Explain your country's policies and position on the issue, including relevant
statistics and research.
 6. Propose solutions: propose and provide further details on possible solutions and identify and
analyze potential benefits and drawbacks. Remember that your solutions should reflect your
country's politics.

Position Paper should be submitted to sanjanavijayavel@[Link]

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Delegates may be requested to present their sources of information by the Executive Board.
The EB will be accepting only certain outlets as valid sources of information. the following
outlets will be accepted:
1. United Nations(websites,articles, documents,resolutions,treaties, etc…)
2. Government reports(Can only be cited by the state that is ruled by the government in
question. However, such reports can be considered invalid by other states)
3. Reuters and Al Jazeera
4. Multilateral organizations(EU, NATO, ASEAN, ETC..)
5. NGO’s recognized and collaborated by the UN

HISTORIC BACKGROUND

The Kashmir dispute is the oldest unresolved international conflict in the world today. Pakistan considers
Kashmir as its core political dispute with India. So does the international community, except India.

India's forcible occupation of the State of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 is the main cause of the dispute.
India claims to have 'signed' a controversial document, the Instrument of Accession, on 26 October 1947
with the Maharaja of Kashmir, in which the Maharaja obtained India's military help against popular
insurgency. The people of Kashmir and Pakistan do not accept the Indian claim. There are doubts about
the very existence of the Instrument of Accession. The United Nations also does not consider the Indian
claim as legally valid: it recognizes Kashmir as a disputed territory. Except for India, the entire world
community recognizes Kashmir as a disputed territory. The fact is that all the principles based on which
the Indian subcontinent was partitioned by the British in 1947 justify Kashmir becoming a part of Pakistan:
the State had a majority Muslim population, and it not only enjoyed geographical proximity with Pakistan
but also had essential economic linkages with the territories constituting Pakistan.

ADDITIONAL READINGS

1. [Link]
nsc-meeting-with-contempt-it-deserves/[Link]
2. [Link]
arks-on-kashmir-by-pakistan-in-unsc/articleshow/[Link]?from=mdr
3. [Link]
e-to-kashmir/articleshow/[Link]
4. [Link]
5. [Link]
type=Jammu%20and%20Kashmir&cbtype=jammu-and-kashmir
6. [Link]
7. [Link]
8. [Link]
nsc-meeting-with-contempt-it-deserves/[Link]
9. [Link]

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER (QARMAS)

1. What impact did the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 have on the relationship between
India and Pakistan?
2. How were the Indo-Pakistani Wars resolved each time, and why could the solutions not prevent
another war from happening?
3. To what extent did the establishment of Bangladesh escalate the contraposition between India
and Pakistan?
4. Which factors made the Kashmir dispute last controversial for more than 70 years?
5. How effectively has the UNSC contributed to mitigating the India-Pakistan dispute?
6. How has the UNSC resolution reduced terrorism in border areas