UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram, addressed the General Assembly, expressing his disappointment with the Security Council’s inability to secure the implementation of its resolutions on Palestine and Kashmir.
He emphasised that this failure to enable the exercise of self-determination for the peoples of Palestine and Kashmir were the “greatest failures” of the 15-member body, eroding its credibility.
Ambassador Akram specifically highlighted India’s occupation of Kashmir, observing that it continues through a reign of terror imposed by an occupying army of over 900,000 troops.
He lamented that despite the Security Council’s resolutions calling for a UN-supervised plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, India’s occupation persists, with significant human rights violations. He criticised the fact that leaders responsible for such atrocities are “entertained in the halls of the champions of human rights.”
The envoy expressed his dissatisfaction with the Council’s annual report, describing it as a “mere ritual” lacking substantive content and consisting primarily of unedifying enumerations of meetings.
He called for a report that not only highlights emerging threats to international peace and security but also outlines the Council’s efforts to settle disputes and prevent conflicts.
Ambassador Akram raised concerns about the Council’s practice of holding substantive discussions and making decisions in closed meetings, which he argued erodes transparency and accountability. He pointed out that this approach contradicts the Charter’s requirement for the Council to act on behalf of all UN member states.
Furthermore, he urged the Counter-Terrorism Committee to address new and emerging threats, including right-wing fascist Hindutva terrorism, rather than solely focusing on Muslim groups. He emphasised the importance of distinguishing terrorism from self-determination struggles.
In response to Akram’s remarks, an Indian representative defended India’s position on Kashmir. However, a Pakistani delegate immediately rejected India’s claim that Kashmir is an integral part of India, stating that repeating the wrong position will not make it acceptable at the UN forum.
Pakistan called on the Security Council to recognise India’s intransigence and make a concerted effort to implement the resolutions that have been awaiting action for over seven decades.
Ambassador Akram emphasised that the failure to secure the implementation of these resolutions not only erodes the Security Council’s credibility and legitimacy but also poses a constant threat of conflict between Pakistan and India.
