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Friday, April 19, 2024

Pakistan congratulates Volkan Bozkir but raises questions on India’s UNSC election

Pakistan congratulated UNGA president-elect Turkish Ambassador Volkan Bozkir according to a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Questions were also raised over the election of India to UNSC, and Pakistan's position on the Ladakh border skirmishes was also clarified.

Pakistan on Thursday congratulated UNGA president-elect Volkan Bozkir for his election to the position of the presidency of the next session of the United Nations General Assembly.

“We warmly congratulate Ambassador Volkan Bozkir of Turkey on his election as the President of the 75th Session of United Nations General Assembly,” said Aisha Farooqui, spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry.

She also congratulated Ireland, Norway and Mexico on their election as non-permanent members to the United Nations Security Council for a two-year term commencing from Jan. 1, 2021. However, she raised questions on India’s election for a two year term to the United Nations Security Council.

Kashmiris congratulate UNGA president-elect: hope for resolution on Kashmir

The Kashmiri diaspora in the US has congratulated a Turkish top official on being elected president of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, saying they trust he will promote justice for Kashmiris during his tenure.

Addressing his remarks to Ambassador Volkan Bozkir, Ghulam Nabi Fai, secretary-general of the World Kashmir Awareness Forum, wrote Thursday: “If the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir had the freedom to express their sentiments, you would no doubt have heard their loud voice rejoicing at the fact that the distinguished representative of brother country – Turkey – is presiding this year over the parliament of nations.”

Read more: Kashmiris congratulate Turkish UNGA president-elect

Citing the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions on Kashmir, Fai requested Bozkir to “exercise your good offices to mediate between Pakistan and India for promoting a solution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the resolutions of the Security Council.”

There are 20 UN resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir that include seeking a plebiscite in the disputed region to decide its political future.

Fai said the resolutions were “meticulously” negotiated between the parties — India and Pakistan — and accepted by each, adding: “They thus embody a solemn international agreement.”

He added: “They were endorsed repeatedly by the Security Council and by successive United Nations representatives.”

Pakistan congratulates UNGA president-elect but questions India’s election

Aisha Farooqui said that the Indian election to non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council has raised a fundamental question as a country with the credential of being consistent violator of the Security Council’s resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir must be held accountable rather than facilitated.

“We congratulate the Ireland, Norway and Mexico on their election to Security Council. The election of India, however, raises fundamental question. The Indian actions in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and beyond are the fundamental negation of the purposes and principles of the UN charter. India is a consistent violator of UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” she said.

The spokesperson said that a country with such credentials must be held accountable. “India must be asked to abide by the resolution of the UN Security Council,” she added.

Read more: The bloodshedding in Kashmir must end

She said the UN Charter had entrusted the UNSC with the primary responsibility for maintenance of international peace and security. The charter stipulates that in discharging this responsibility on behalf of the member states, the Council shall act in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN. “This is the touchstone for the Council’s credibility and legitimacy.”

Contrarily, she said, India stood in flagrant violations of several resolution of the UNSC that prescribed the UN supervised plebiscites to enable the people of IOJK to exercise their fundamental right to self determination.

She said India’s gross and systemic violations of the human rights in IOJK had been extensively documented by international human rights and humanitarian organizations as well as the Office of the Commissioner of Human Rights in its reports.

Pakistan clarifies its views on Ladakh border skirmishes

About the China-India tension, she said, Pakistan had noted the reports of renewed clashes at China-India border areas. “We believe that the clashes happened as China was negotiating with India to resolve the conflict peacefully and through agreed mechanisms. India’s belligerent policies and actions seeking to unilaterally change borders with neighbours continue to pose a threat to peace and security of the region and undermine the efforts aimed at promoting stability and development in the region,” she said.

Aisha Farooqui said the two officials of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, Dwimu Brahma and Selvadas Paul, were over-speeding and crashed their car into a pedestrian on 15 June 2020.

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