Pakistan joins the international community in marking the landmark 75th Anniversary of the United Nations. Born out of ashes of war and destruction, the United Nations represents the triumph of global solidarity, goodwill and friendliness. Through the UN Charter, the founding fathers of the United Nations committed themselves to work together for international peace and security, economic development, and human rights and human dignity.
On this auspicious occasion, Pakistan reaffirms its abiding commitment to multilateralism and the cardinal principles and purposes of the UN Charter which espouses respect for international law, territorial integrity of states, non-use or threat of use of force, and right of peoples to self-determination.
Pakistan is one of the longest-serving and largest contributors to UN Peacekeeping. Since 1960, over 200,000 of our bravest have served in 46 Missions in 26 countries. 158 Pakistani peacekeepers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of international peace and security.
Pakistan has also served on the UN Security Council seven times and presided over the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) five times. We have recently been elected to the UN Human Rights Council for the fifth time with an overwhelming majority by the UN General Assembly. It is a testimony of Pakistan’s meaningful engagement with the three pillars of the United Nations? peace and security, development, and human rights.
The United Nations holds the prime responsibility to help mitigate conflicts, save lives through humanitarian actions and uphold human rights and human dignity while encouraging pacific settlement of disputes.
The 75th Anniversary of the United Nations is a stark reminder of the unfulfilled promises to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, for the fulfilment of their inalienable right to self-determination, guaranteed in UN Security Council resolutions.
The United Nations, as well as the UN Security Council, must press Indian Government to end atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK); lift the continuing military siege; remove restrictions on communication movement and peaceful assembly; revoke new domicile rules designed to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory; rescind unilateral and unlawful actions since 5 August 2019; establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate human rights violations by Indian forces, and implement UN Security Council resolutions.
Despite the increasing trend to pursue narrow national interests, the United Nations remains humanity’s best hope for sustainable peace and meaningful cooperation. The myriad of challenges ranging from global peace and security to sustainable development and changing climate, requires collective action by all member states.
In this endeavour, Pakistan stands ready to work hand-in-hand with the international community for promoting the work of the United Nations based on dialogue, diplomacy and cooperation to address existing and emerging challenges.
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NOT TO BE PUBLISHED/TELECAST/BROADCAST BEFORE 24-10-2020
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