Kashmir issue echoes at United Nations
Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, who assumed the UN Security Council's presidency for July on Tuesday, has underscored the need for resolving the Kashmir dispute, which he said was causing tensions and frictions between India and Pakistan.
"It is time that this (Kashmir dispute) be addressed, and I would say this is not only a responsibility of Pakistan — we are here temporarily, two years as a non-permanent member," he told a crowded news conference at UN Headquarters in New York, while responding to a question.
"I think it's the responsibility of the Security Council itself, and particularly the permanent members to see that they take certain steps to actually get their own resolutions implemented," Ambassador Asim Iftikhar said.
"That's the way forward," he added.
Ahead of the press conference, the 15-member council met and approved the programme of work for the month of July.
"Our approach is firmly rooted in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, peaceful settlement of disputes, sovereign equality, respect for international law and multilateralism," Ambassador Asim Iftikhar told UN corps of correspondents.
Pakistan, he said, will convene two signature events during its presidency - a high-level debate on "Promoting International Peace and Security through Multilateralism and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes," scheduled for 22 July, and on UN-OIC cooperation on July 24. Both debates will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar.
Moreover, DPM/FM Dar would also preside over the quarterly open debate on Palestine on July 23.
"The debates stem from the reality that today's crises often emerge from unresolved disputes, the erosion of international obligations, and the underutilization of peaceful means enshrined in Chapter VI of the Charter," the Pakistani envoy said.
"We aim to: Reflect on the effectiveness of dispute settlement mechanisms; Discuss obstacles to implementation of Council decisions; Explore ways to enhance diplomacy, mediation and technical support; and Reinforce the commitments made in the Pact for the Future to preventive diplomacy and peaceful dispute resolution."
On Kashmir, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar also said that all issues on the Security Council's agenda can be discussed any time and the decades-old dispute over the Himalayan state was on agenda under India-Pakistan question.
The UN Security Council has pronounced on it in several resolutions that, among other elements, grant the Kashmiri people their right to self-determination, he said.
"It is festering dispute, It has several dimensions," the Pakistan envoy said, noting its peace and security dimension, political and legal dimension, and it also human rights dimension.
"This is an issue that has been there unresolved; It is a cause of tensions and frictions between India and Pakistan. It is impeding development of friendly relations in our region. It is time that this be addressed," he added.
The Council, he said, will remain focused on key global issues, including the situation in the Middle East and developments in Africa, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
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