UN leadership calls for resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan

NEW YORK: Prime Minister’s Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi has met with the top UN leadership who called for resumption of dialogue and de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan.

Mr. Fatemi met Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson, Under Secretary General for Political Affairs, Jeffery Feltman and the Secretary General-designate Antonio Guterres. He was accompanied by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN.

Mr. Fatemi reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism. He said Pakistan expects the UN to play its role in ensuring peace and stability in the region, especially in the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

He recalled that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had reached out to India and made efforts to develop a mutually beneficial relationship, but the efforts were not received being reciprocated.

The SAPM also briefed them about human rights excesses being committed by Indian occupation forces on the Kashmiri people, and the efforts to quash a peaceful and indigenous uprising have led to the killing of over a hundred people, and injured thousand injuries and =with over six hundred blinded by the brutal use of pellet guns.

He said India had also closed the doors on any bilateral engagement, and to divert attention from the atrocities in Kashmir, it has stepped up ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, which includes the deplorable act of deliberately targeting civilians.

Therefore, the UN had a moral responsibility to call for ending human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir, and play its role in resolution of this long festering dispute and help in immediately de-escalating tensions.

Mr. Fatemi said Pakistan was ready to play its part for peace and stability in Afghanistan. “Pakistan had extended the deadline for return of Afghan refugees, as it believed that Afghan refugees should go back to their homeland with dignity and honour,” he said.

He also briefed them on the consolidation of democracy in Pakistan, the country’s economic revival and its counter terrorism efforts. He reiterated that counter terrorism operations have been very successful in eliminating terrorist infrastructure and hideouts, and would continue until the last terrorist was eliminated.

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.

Mr. Fatemi met with UN Secretary General-designate Antonio Guterres, and expressed the hope that the fruitful cooperation between Pakistan and the UN would further enhance with Guterres at the helm.