Kashmir's youth demanding freedom from India: Nawaz tells UN

“A new generation of Kashmiris has risen spontaneously against India’s illegal occupation – demanding freedom from occupation,” said Nawaz Sharif.

“Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces has emerged as a symbol of latest Kashmiri Intifada,” said Nawaz remembering the separatist leader killed by Indian forces.

Nawaz demanded a UN fact finding mission to observe and analyse the situation in Indian-Occupied Kashmir, release of all political prisoners, independent inquiry into extrajudicial killings,  and the freedom for the people of Kashmir to protest against Indian rule.

I would like to inform the General Assembly that Pakistan will share with the Secretary General a dossier containing detailed information and evidence of the gross and systematic violations of human rights committed by Indian forces in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He added that these brutalities will not suppress the spirit of the Kashmiris; it will only intensify their anger and fortify their determination to see India end its occupation of Kashmir. From Srinagar to Sopore, the men, women and children come out each day, defying curfew, to demand freedom.

Furthermore, Nawaz Sharif also demanda UN-backed plebiscite and reminded the security council about its resolutions over the issue.

Peace with India 

About the regional challenges, the PM stated that Pakistan cannot ignore India’s arms build-up and will do whatever is necessary to maintain credible deterrence.

“Confrontation should not be our destiny in South Asia. Pakistan wants peace with India. I have gone the extra mile to achieve this, repeatedly offering a dialogue to address all outstanding issues,” said Nawaz Sharif.

Today, from this rostrum, I would also like to reiterate our offer to India to enter into a serious and sustained dialogue for the peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, especially Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan ‘victim of terrorism’

The PM claimed that Pakistan’s priority goal is of economic development which requires internal peace and stability but Pakistan has been the principal victim of terrorism including that supported, sponsored and financed from abroad.

We will not allow externally sponsored terrorism and threats of destabilization to cause turbulence in Pakistan.

Tens of thousands of our citizens and thousands of our security personnel have been killed or injured in terrorist attacks.

This has only reinforced our resolve to eliminate the scourge of terrorism.

Our comprehensive strategy of law enforcement and targeted military operations has produced remarkable results and enabled Pakistan to turn the tide against terrorism.

He claimed that Pakistan’s Zarb-e-Azb Operation is the largest, most robust and most successful anti-terrorism campaign anywhere in the world, deploying 200,000 of our security forces.

“Terrorism, however, is now a global phenomenon, which must be addressed comprehensively and in all its forms, including State terrorism. The international community must coordinate its efforts to accomplish this. These efforts should be taken collectively and not unilaterally by the passage of any laws with extra-territorial application targeted against certain countries,” said the PM.

We will not win the fight against terrorism and violent extremism so long as we do not address their root causes. These lie in poverty and ignorance, political and social injustice and oppression, foreign intervention and occupation and denial of the legitimate rights of peoples and nations, especially the right to self-determination.

Until these underlying causes are addressed, it will be difficult to counter the twisted narrative of violent extremists and terrorists.

The Afghan issue 

The premier reminded the international community that, after 15 years of the current war in Afghanistan, the international community agrees that the only road to a lasting peace in that country is through a dialogue between the Government in Kabul and the Afghan Taliban.

Progress will be assured only when the Afghan parties themselves conclude that there is no military solution to the Afghan war, and work assiduously, through a meaningful dialogue process, for achieving reconciliation and peace at home

Pakistan’s NSG membership

Nawaz told the UN that, as a responsible nuclear weapon state, Pakistan will continue to cooperate with all international efforts that seek to promote fair and equitable solutions to disarmament and non-proliferation challenges.

“We have introduced ‘state of the art’ measures to strengthen the safety and security of our nuclear materials and facilities. We have adopted a comprehensive export control regime that is fully consistent with international standards,” said the PM.

Judged on the basis of objective criteria, and without discrimination, Pakistan is fully eligible for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group.