Daily Times

NEW YORK: In their meetings with Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, the top UN leadership has called for resumption of dialogue and between Pakistan and India.

During his visit, he met Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson, Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffery Feltman and Secretary General-designate Antonio Guterres. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Dr Maleeha Lodhi also accompanied him.

Fatemi, in his meetings at UN Headquarters, reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism. He said Pakistan expected the UN to play its role in ensuring peace and stability in the region, especially in the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

Recalling that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had reached out to India and made efforts to develop a mutually beneficial relationship, he expressed disappointment at the efforts not being reciprocated.

He also briefed them about continued human rights excesses being committed by Indian occupation forces on the Kashmiris.

Efforts to quash a popular, peaceful, spontaneous and indigenous uprising in IHK had led to the killing of over a hundred people, injuries to thousands with over six hundred blinded by the brutal use of pellet guns.

“To divert international attention from the atrocities, Indian forces had also stepped up ceasefire violations on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary. A particularly deplorable aspect of this escalation was the deliberate targeting of civilians,” he added.

He said that India had also closed the doors on any bilateral engagement. In this situation, the UN had a moral responsibility to call for ending human rights violations in IHK, play its role in resolution of this long festering dispute and help in immediately de-escalating tensions.

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

The special assistant also briefed them on the consolidation of democracy in Pakistan, the country’s economic revival and its counterterrorism efforts. This campaign, he said, 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 a vital role in the region. He also praised Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees for decades.

Fatemi conveyed the good wishes and greetings of Nawaz Sharif to Secretary General-designate Antonio Guterres. He hoped that the fruitful cooperation between Pakistan and the UN would further enhance with Guterres at the helm.

Fatemi also met a group of Arab ambassadors during his one-day stay in New York.