UN chief offers to calm Indo-Pak tensions

Antonio Guterres urges India to honour human rights in Kashmir

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United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said that the “global body could play its role in de-escalating tensions” arising from the Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India and the latter’s ceasefire violations along the Line of Control.

“There is a dire need to protect human rights of the people living in India Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K),” the UN secretary general said while addressing a news conference along with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday.

The UN chief, who arrived in Pakistan in the wee hours of Sunday, had visited the Foreign Office and held delegation-level talks with the minister in which inhuman treatment of Indian forces with the people of IOJ&K, unconstitutional lockdown, hosting Afghan refugees as well as Afghan peace process were discussed. Guterres planted a tree on the premises to commemorate Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ‘10 Billion Tree Tsunami’ initiative.

UN chief urges world to 'show similar leadership as Pakistan has shown'

According to the Foreign Office, Guterres is in Pakistan to attend the international conference on Afghan refugees starting from Feb 17 (Monday). The conference will mark 40 years of hosting Afghan refugees on Pakistan’s soil.

Addressing the media persons, the UN chief thanked Prime Minister Imran for inviting him to visit Pakistan.

Guterres commended Pakistan for its immense contributions in strengthening the UN charter and objectives across the globe, terming Pakistan as a reliable partner and committed member of the world body.

The UN secretary general said Pakistan had been playing a leadership role in the region with its peace efforts, especially in facilitating the Afghan peace and reconciliation process.

“Pakistan and its people have been showing generosity by hosting millions of Afghan refugees on its soil for decades despite limited international aid. I have always found Pakistan's commitment and support to the UN charter and objective very impressive and permanent.”

He urged the world community to look towards Pakistan with a new perspective as it had been progressive and developing under the principles of its founder Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the ideals of Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

Pakistan is a rich country with big names like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abdul Sattar Edhi, Sharmeen Obaid Chenai and Malala Yousafzai, he added.

The UN chief said the purpose of his visit is aimed at acknowledging the great generosity and hospitality that Pakistan has extended to the Afghan refugees for years.

About his meeting with the foreign minister, he said they had discussed a number of issues, including the regional security and Afghan peace process.

The UN secretary general also appreciated Pakistan's peacekeeping role under the banner of UN around the world, noting that its peacekeeping missions were serving with commitment under the UN charter.

He also acknowledged Pakistan's efforts in eradication of terrorism, saying that the country was now fully safe and secure.

He maintained that a peaceful well-negotiated political solution and effective permanent ceasefire are crucial for securing durable peace in Afghanistan which would further the repatriation of Afghan refugees with dignity.

Guterres said the United Nations Military Observers Group (UNMOG) in India and Pakistan were monitoring the ceasefire violations along the LoC. He also appreciated the opening of Kartarpur Corridor and said it was a symbol of interfaith harmony, peace and tolerance and manifestation of Pakistan's efforts towards regional peace.

Foreign Minister Qureshi said that he had a very intensive and fruitful meeting with the visiting UN secretary general.

The foreign minister said they agreed on a time-bound roadmap for repatriation of Afghan refugees, in assistance with the international community.

Reaffirming Pakistan's support for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, he said it is committed to its efforts as peace in the neigbouring country is vital for regional stability.

“Now, Pakistan is being looked upon as part of the solution parting ways with its perception of the past as being a part of the problem,” Qureshi said.

He reiterated Pakistan's commitment with the objectives and the UN charter, saying that multilateralism was a forum for fostering cooperation and interfaith harmony among the world community instead of unilateralism as manifested by India in its illegal act of August 5 last year over the internationally recognised Kashmir dispute.

The minister said he had also conveyed Pakistan's concerns over the evolving situation arising out of that unilateral act by the Indian government. “All shades of Kashmiri people, its leadership and even Indian people have rejected that move. Even against the controversial citizenship acts, chaos erupted across India in which so far 25 people have been shot dead by the Indian security forces.”

Qureshi said more than 200 days have passed since the siege and lockdown in August last year in IOJ&K where people have been deprived of their basic human rights and subjected to worst inhuman conditions.

He maintained that the UN secretary general was the custodian of the UN charter and they wanted him to meet certain expectations.

He urged the UN secretary general to reaffirm the UNSC resolutions on the Kashmir issue besides highlighting the restoration of fundamental rights and freedom of movement, and calling upon India to respect the 2003 ceasefire agreement.

To a question, both observed that Islamphobia was a threat to global interfaith harmony and the negative impacts from the hate speeches were the main cause of this menace now spreading in the West.

They renewed their pledge to fight this threat at all fora.

Qureshi said, “The Kartarpur Corridor is a symbol of interfaith harmony and tolerance when compared with the demolition of Babri Mosque in India.”

The minister said he had also shared with the UN chief certain development initiatives of the government over social security net, including Ehsaas programme, Sehat Sahulat cards and other steps, in line with the sustainable development goals. (With additional input from APP)