UNITED NATIONS – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held wide-rangingtalks with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that focused on thedecades-old Kashmir dispute and the evolving situation in Afghanistan.
According to an official press release issued by the Pakistan Mission tothe UN on Saturday, the meeting took place at the UN Headquarters in NewYork.
Apprising the UN chief of the dire situation in Illegally Indian OccupiedJammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the foreign minister said the unilateral Indianmeasures taken in the disputed territory are a threat to regional andinternational peace and security, it said.
FM Qureshi presented a comprehensive dossier to the Secretary-Generaldetailing serious, systematic and widespread human rights violations, warcrimes, crimes against humanity and genocide perpetrated by the Indianoccupying forces. India, he said, was busy changing the demographics ofKashmir, ignoring UN Security Council resolutions and international law.
The Foreign Minister urged the UN Secretary-General to resolve the Kashmirissue in accordance with the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions,the withdrawal of illegal and unilateral measures of August 5, 2019, andthe right of Kashmiris to their legitimate rights. He also called forpressurising India to achieve self-determination for the Kashmiri people.
Situation in Afghanistan may deteriorate if right policy is not pursued,warns Qureshi
On Afghanistan, FM Qureshi called for the international community to takeimmediate steps to provide immediate humanitarian and financial assistanceto Afghanistan and promote peace and stability.
The Foreign Minister briefed the UN chief on Pakistan’s assistance in thesafe evacuation and relocation of UN and international staff from Kabul.
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He also apprised the Secretary-General of the establishment of the “HumanCorridor” for the delivery of aid and relief goods sent by Pakistan toAfghanistan by air and land. During the meeting, the Foreign Ministerstressed the need to take effective measures to curb the growingintolerance, discriminatory attitudes and Islamophobia. He also called forthe elimination of the corona vaccine inequality and for ensuring adequatefinancial support for developing countries to deal with epidemics and theireconomic implications.
Meanwhile, addressing a news conference in New York, Shah Mahmood Qureshicalled for a coordinated strategy to bring peace, stability and prosperityin Afghanistan. He warned that Afghanistan could plunge into another crisisand the situation might deteriorate there if the right policy was notpursued.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his address to theUN General Assembly, touched upon all those topics which are of immenseimportance for the people of Pakistan.
Also, FM Qureshi congratulated the President of the General Assembly on hiselection and expressed the hope that his presence in this important officewould help make progress on important issues on the agenda of the UnitedNations.
FM Qureshi called for making the UN Security Council more representative,democratic, transparent, effective and accountable to address the multiplechallenges facing the world. He emphasized that the reform of the Councilmust be decided by consensus, and the Member states must be allowed thenecessary time and space to evolve a solution acceptable to the entire UNmembership.