NEW YORK: Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi on Wednesday said, “Pakistan expects the United Nations (UN) to play its role in ensuring peace and stability in the region, especially in the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.”
He expressed these views during his meetings with Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson, Under Secretary General for Political Affairs, Jeffery Feltman and the Secretary General-designate Antonio Guterres at UN Headquarters, said the Foreign Office.
He was accompanied in all these meetings by Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi.
In his meetings, Taqriq Fatemi reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism.
Recalling that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had reached out to India and made efforts to develop a mutually beneficial relationship, Tariq Fatemi expressed disappointment at the efforts not being reciprocated.
He also briefed them about continued human rights excesses being committed by Indian occupation forces on the Kashmiri people.
“Efforts to quash a popular, peaceful, spontaneous and indigenous uprising in IOK had led to the killing of over a hundred people, injuries to thousands with over six hundred blinded by the brutal use of pellet guns,” he said.
“To divert international attention from the atrocities, Indian forces had also stepped up ceasefire violations on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary. A particularly deplorable aspect of this escalation was the deliberate targeting of civilians,” he added.
“India had also closed the doors on any bilateral engagement. In this situation, the UN had a moral responsibility to call for ending human rights violations in IOK, play its role in resolution of this long festering dispute and help in immediately de-escalating tensions,” he said.
On Afghanistan, Fatemi said, “Pakistan was ready to play its part for peace and stability in the country. Pakistan had extended the deadline for return of Afghan refugees, as it believed that Afghan refugees should go back to their hom eland with dignity and honour.”
The special assistant also briefed them on the consolidation of democracy in Pakistan, the country's economic revival and its counter terrorism efforts.
“The counter terrorism operations had been very successful in eliminating terrorist infrastructure and hideouts. This campaign would continue until the last terrorist was eliminated,” he said
The top UN leadership called for resumption of dialogue and de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan.
Deputy Secretary General Eliasson expressed concern at the regional situation and called for the lowering of tensions.
He said, “Pakistan was an important member of the United Nations and had an important role in the region.” He also appreciated Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees for decades.
Fatemi conveyed the good wishes and greetings of the Prime Minister to Secretary General-designate Antonio Guterres.
He expressed the hope that the fruitful cooperation between Pakistan and the UN would further enhance with Guterres at the helm.
The state minister also met a group of Arab ambassadors during his one-day stay in New York.