Freedom of information, and universal access to it, is crucial to promoting cultural and linguistic diversity, and the United Nations is at the forefront of the battle to protect these rights, a senior information official has said.

“Free speech and media freedom are an inseparable part of the United Nations’ mission for peace, human development and a better world,” Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information Kiyo Akasaka told a global seminar on linguistic diversity, globalization and development in Alexandria, Egypt, on Sunday.

At the division of Indian Sub-continent, Kashmir was one of hundreds of princely states that had to be won over by either India or Pakistan. The maharajah Hari Singh, wanted independence, but faced with an invasion by tribal Militants from Pakistan he agreed to join India in exchange for military help for the security and safety of its people.

India approached the United Nations, which led to a Security Council resolution that a plebiscite be held to determine whether Kashmiris want to join India or Pakistan. At Pakistan’s insistence, independence was not included as an option.