Daily Times

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has once again urged the United Nations (UN) to resolve long-standing issues of Kashmir and Palestine.

“The United Nations will be practicing double standards if the right of self-determination to people living under occupation – Kashmiris and Palestinians – continues to be condoned and if it fails to resolve long-standing disputes,” Pakistani Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi said while speaking in a high-level ‘Thematic Debate on Peace and Security in the General Assembly on Wednesday.

The envoy underscored the need for the world body to stop injustices being done to the peoples of Kashmir and Palestine and to honour the commitments made to them through its resolutions.

She also exhorted the UN to evolve cooperative solutions to international challenges, which she called “truly imposing”, referring to rise of xenophobia, Islamophobia, intolerance and various forms of discrimination as well as spread of terrorism.

“Sovereign equality of states, settlement of international disputes by peaceful means, and avoidance of the use or threat of use of force were fundamental principles entrenched in the UN Charter,” Ambassador Lodhi argued.

“But the organisation will be seen to practice double standards if it continues to condone military aggression or foreign interventions, ignore persisting situations of foreign occupation and denial of the right of self-determination to people living under occupation and also if it fails to address prolonged outstanding disputes,” she said in a sharply-worded speech to the 193-member Assembly.

“After all, the United Nations was created with the very purpose to prevent and stop these injustices such as the denial of fundamental human rights to the people of Palestine and Kashmir. Is not it our collective and solemn duty to keep the promises made to them through numerous resolutions of this body? How can this body command the respect it deserves if its own edicts are flouted?” she questioned.

Lodhi asked why is the Security Council still reluctant to refer legal disputes to the International Court of Justice. “Why has the General Assembly been absolved of its responsibility to make recommendations on questions relating to international peace and security,” she further asked.

“And, if we have no credible answers to these questions except the imperatives of realpolitik, the world at large will view the United Nations as little more than a political tool in the hand of the powerful few,” Ambassador Lodhi maintained, adding, “this impression would hardly inspire trust”.

“A participatory approach that we saw in the adoption of the 2030 Development Agenda and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change was essential,” the Pakistani envoy said. “Yet in the maintenance of international peace and security, we do not see similar unity, consensus or resolve. We believe our approaches to critical issues such as counterterrorism and peacekeeping will benefit from wider participation and consultation,” she highlighted.