Nawaz seeks end to bloodshed in IOK
 

UNITED NATIONS: In a daring step, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has sought the intercession of five permanent members (P-5) of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for stopping the bloodshed in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and resolving the dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

According to official sources, the prime minister, who is currently in New York to attend the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), has written identical letters to the Council’s P5 (US, UK, Russia, China, France), stating that the UN’s resolutions concerning the Kashmir dispute should be put to implementation.

He called upon the P-5 that India should be forced to stop its brutalities in the occupied Kashmir.“Despite the passage of more than 68 years since the adoption of multiple resolutions, the people of Jammu and Kashmir still await the implementation of these resolutions which promised them the right to self-determination to be exercised through the holding of a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices,” said the premier.

The letters emphasised the extremely negative implications of the dire situation in the IOK for the region as well as international peace and security.“The continuation and lack of solution for the Kashmir dispute is a persistent source of regional tension and instability, posing a threat to international peace,” the letter read.

With Kashmir high on his agenda, the prime minister arrived in New York on Sunday after**on to lead the Pakistani delegation at the UNGA session, where he would enunciate Islamabad’s position on key global and regional issues before one of the largest gatherings of leaders from around the world.

The prime minister had marathon discussions with his aides in the wee hours of Monday on the upcoming event in the world body before commencement of hectic engagements of the first working day at the UN headquarters.

The aides whom the premier consulted were Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Syed Tariq Fatemi, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Pakistan’s envoy for Washington Syed Jalil Abbas Jilani and other senior officials.

AJK President Sardar Masood Khan also called on the prime minister earlier, the sources pointed out.The prime minister also met British Prime Minister Theresa May, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Muhammad bin Naif bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and US Secretary of the State John Kerry. They later called on the premier in his New York hotel.

During his interaction with the world leaders, Nawaz raised the question of worsening situation in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), Pakistan’s efforts in elimination of terrorism from the face of globe, developments pertaining to the situation in Afghanistan and marked development and progress being made in the country in his daylong meetings with the world leaders here at the headquarters of the United Nations.

The meetings took place on the brink of the UNGA and the prime minister was assisted by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, the country’s Permanent Representative (PR) in the United Nations Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Pakistan’s Ambassador in the United States Syed Jalil Abbas Jilani and other senior officials.

US Secretary of State John Kerry was the first interlocutor of the day who called on the prime minister. Recalling his constructive meetings with the US President Obama during the last three years, he emphasized that strong relations between Pakistan and the United States remain a mutual desire and this partnership was critical to ensure regional peace and stability.

Nawaz apprised Secretary Kerry of the successes in the field of counterterrorism, particularly Operation Zarb-e-Azb that has broken the backbone of terrorists.Secretary Kerry appreciated the efforts of the armed forces of Pakistan and security institutions and police in rooting out terrorism and extremism. He said Pakistan and Afghanistan had mutual interests in peace and security.

The secretary lauded the eco**mic turnaround achieved by the government and successful completion of the IMF programme.He also appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for adding thousands of megawatts of power to the system through execution of various power projects.

Nawaz said Pakistan had always fought terrorism as a moral obligation. “I have always reached out to the neighboring countries for regional peace, stability and prosperity,” he told Senator Kerry.

He said more than 107 people had been assassinated in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, thousands injured and the worst human rights violations were being committed at the state level.“I still remember President Clinton’s promise that the US will play its role to help resolve disputes and issues between Pakistan and India,” the prime minister said.

“I expect the US administration and Secretary Kerry to use his good ******s to help resolve the issues between Pakistan and India,” the prime minister added.He said terrorists’ infrastructure had been dismantled and they were on the run due to the indiscriminate action.

“Implementation of the National Action Plan across the country is in full swing and the national resolve against terrorism and extremism is unflinching,” he said.Discussing the situation in Afghanistan, the prime minister expressed satisfaction over a lot of hard work done under the QCG process of which both Pakistan and the US are members.

Nawaz stressed the need for a meaningful engagement with Afghanistan. He also met his counterpart John Key of New Zealand at the UN Headquarters.The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the state of bilateral relations and exchanged views on matters of bilateral, regional and global concern.



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