Pakistan has asked UNICEF to strip Indian actress Priyanka Chopra of her role as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, saying she made “pro-war” statements amid rising tensions between the two countries related to the war. Kashmir region.

Miss World 2000 and Indian actress was protested by Pakistan for her “pro-war” statement. Photo Getty Images.

In a letter sent to Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Henrietta Forre and also posted on social networks on April 22, Pakistani Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari asked the 37-year-old actress , and former Miss World, must be stripped of her position as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador immediately.

Chopra is accused of supporting the war by publicly endorsing the Indian government’s position on Kashmir, a long-disputed region claimed in full by both India and Pakistan.

Earlier this month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the removal of autonomy from the state of Jammu and Kashmir, part of the Himalayan territory. India then imposed a curfew, cut off electricity and cut off communications in this area for a period of time. The move sparked a backlash from both Pakistan and led to protests over Kashmir worldwide.

Minister Mazari said the Indian government’s stance on the Kashmir region under its control goes “against the principles of peace and goodwill and Ms. Chopra should have been obliged to respect in her position.” .

“Her jokes and her support for the Modi government’s violations of international conventions have undermined the credibility of the United Nations. Unless she is removed from that position immediately, the concept of a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Peace will become a global mockery,” Minister Mazari added.

On August 22, a spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the statements of goodwill ambassadors do not always represent UNICEF but only in certain cases. “When they speak in private, they have the right to speak about their interests or concerns. Their personal views do not reflect the views of the agency they may represent,” said spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Pakistan’s criticism of the former Miss World comes from comments she made earlier this month and a tweet posted last February.

Specifically, on February 26, when two South Asian nuclear neighbors were on the brink of war after a bombing in a village in Pakistan, Chopra posted on Twitter: “Jai Hind #IndianArmedForces”, translated Literally “Support India”.

Chopra, who invited Indian Prime Minister Modi to her wedding to singer Nick Jonas, was criticized for being “blindly patriotic” and “showing a lack of sympathy” for the suffering of the people of Kashmir.