UNITED NATIONS: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi urged UN Secretary General António Guterres to play his role in resolving the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in line with the UN Charter and the UNSC resolutions.
Talking to the secretary general in New York, Qureshi highlighted the serious human rights violations in the occupied territory, including illegal incarceration of political leaders and extra-judicial killings, Radio Pakistan reported.
“Pakistan desires normal relations with India, however, the onus is on India to create an atmosphere to enable meaningful engagement,” the minister told Guterres.
Qureshi stated that his visit to New York to attend the UNGA session on Palestine was an expression of Pakistan’s support for the legitimate cause of the Palestinian people for their right to self-determination.
He also highlighted Islamabad’s efforts to facilitate the Afghan peace process, expressing hope that the stakeholders would reach an inclusive and politically-negotiated settlement to bring lasting peace and security in Afghanistan.
The minister expressed deep concern at the rising intolerance, discrimination, violence against Muslims, as well Islamophobia, and urged the UN’s role to address the challenge.
António Guterres expressed that the ceasefire in Gaza could help revive a negotiated settlement of the Palestinian issue.
On Thursday, the foreign minister called for collective efforts to end the human tragedy in Palestine and avert threats to regional peace.
He also asked United Nations to deploy a ‘International Protection Force’ in Occupied Palestine, saying if the world body can’t do it, a “coalition of willing” can be formed for the purpose.
He asked the UNGA to secure unconditional implementation of Resolution 242 in which the UNSC demanded that Israel withdraw its armed forces from territories occupied in the 1967 war.
“It is imperative to initiate bold steps to secure the implementation of the Security Council and General Assembly resolutions calling for the establishment of a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
“Pakistan endorses [Palestinian] President Abbas’ call for an international conference to secure a peaceful settlement,” he added.
The foreign minister termed the Palestine issue as the reason behind the turmoil and conflicts in the Middle East and the “principle root cause of the humiliation and anger in the Arab and Muslim world”.
He said the onus for restoring peace was on Israel which needed to end its occupation of Palestinian land. “This General Assembly session must send a clear message to Israel and the Palestinian people,” he added.
“It is only through determined and decisive action that this Assembly can restore the credibility of the United Nations and demonstrate its effective role in maintaining global peace and world order based on equity and justice,” he concluded.
Comments are closed.