Mr. President,
I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his Report on the Work of the Organization contained in Document A/76/1 as well as for his remarks this morning alerting us to the “five alarms” he has raised, says a press release recived here today from New York.
2. The United Nations is an indispensable organization. The world could not function without the norms and standards established by the United Nations and the mechanisms of cooperation and coordination which are managed by the UN and its family of organizations and agencies.
3. In particular, my delegation would like to express its appreciation to the Secretary-General and for the critical and vital role which the United Nations and its agencies have played in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic – helping countries through WHO and the Covax facility. The role of the UN Country Offices and UN Resident Coordinators in coordinating national responses to the pandemic was also commendable.
4. Likewise, Pakistan deeply appreciates the Secretary-General and OCHA’s mobilization of humanitarian and other assistance for the people of Afghanistan. The Flash Appeal issued last September and the recent appeal for $5 billion to help Afghanistan’s people are timely and essential responses to the severe humanitarian and economic crisis facing Afghanistan. This mobilization of resources and the delivery of humanitarian assistance and financial help by the UN, its agencies and civil society actors may save hundreds of thousands of Afghan lives.
Mr. President,
5. Similarly, the United Nations role in peacekeeping is a major success story. UN peacekeeping operations have contributed to the preservation of peace and the prevention and exacerbation conflicts in several parts of the world, particularly in Africa. Pakistan will remain a steadfast partner to the UN in ensuring the effectiveness of all UN peacekeeping measures, including the one stationed in Jammu and Kashmir – the United Nations Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan.
Mr. President,
6. In his statement this morning, the Secretary-General has rightly outlined the multiple challenges and crises which the world community confronts today – rising tensions between the major powers; endemic disputes and prolonged foreign occupation, new conflicts and flashpoints; a new arms race; erosion of the disarmament consensus; and the emergence of new military alliances.
7. Peace and security must remain at the core of the functions of the United Nations. We fully support the UN’s efforts to address the several crises and situations mentioned by the Secretary-General. Peace must be promoted through adherence to the principles of the UN Charter and implementation of the resolutions of the Security Council. The United Nations and the Secretary-General can do much more in addressing threats to peace and security, especially by fully utilizing the authority provided by the Charter, such as in Article 99, and by resorting to action in the General Assembly if the Security Council is unable to act on any issue.
8. In South Asia, the primary threat to international peace and security is posed by the long-festering dispute over Jammu and Kashmir and the blatant attempt by India to impose what its extremist regime calls a “Final Solution” to Jammu and Kashmir. India’s attempt since 5 August 2019 to annex occupied Jammu and Kashmir – to transform the Muslim majority state into a Hindu majority territory – constitutes a grave violation of the UN Charter and UN Security Council resolutions. These resolutions have promised the Kashmiris their right to self-determination through a UN supervised plebiscite. The Security Council has also declared that unilateral measures, such as those taken by India, to change the status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir are null and void.
Mr. President,
9. Today, the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistanis are observing the grim anniversary of the “Gaw Kadal” massacre on 21 January 1990. On that day, Indian occupation forces brutally martyred at least 52 innocent and peaceful protesters in Srinagar for demanding freedom from Indian oppression. Since that day India’s brutal occupation has killed over a hundred thousand Kashmiris. India’s cruel occupation is continuing, Kashmiri political leaders are in jail. During the past year, hundreds of innocent Kashmiris have been killed in fake “encounters”. Thousands of Kashmiri boys have been abducted and many of them tortured. Collective punishments are imposed by burning entire villages and neighbourhoods. Earlier this year, Pakistan circulated a dossier listing over 3300 specific crimes committed by Indian security forces.
10. So far, there has been no accountability for India’s crimes. Draconian Indian laws provide complete impunity to the 900,000 troops India has deployed in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
11. Pakistan condemns the increasing harassment, illegal arrests and registration of fake criminal cases against journalists and civil society activists such as Khurram Pervez, in occupied Kashmir. The recent attack and ban on the Kashmir Press Club is another manifestation of India’s entrenched use of brute force and coercion to silence all those who raise their voice against its criminal and genocidal acts in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
12. Yet, despite India’s extensive endeavour to cover up its criminal behavior, despite the reticence of countries who denounce human rights violations everywhere except those committed by India, the world’s people are beginning to pay attention. The Russel Tribunal on Kashmir held in Sarajevo last month was one such encouraging example. This week an application has been filed by a London-based law firm seeking the arrest of Indian officials over their alleged role in war crimes committed in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Reportedly, the law firm has submitted its report based on over 2000 testimonies taken between 2020 and 2021 documenting the culpability of Indian military and civil leadership in torture, kidnapping and killing of activists, journalists and civilians. Several Special Rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council have asked to visit occupied Kashmir to investigate reports of Human Rights violations. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has also asked for an Inquiry Commission.
Mr. President,
13. The Jammu and Kashmir dispute must be urgently resolved to halt Indian atrocities and prevent a threat to regional and global peace and security. The UN Secretary-General stated on 8 August 2019 that this Organization’s position on the Jammu and Kashmir is based on UN Charter, UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. We urge the Security Council and the Secretary-General to exercise their considerable authority to promote an early and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and to end the Indian reign of terror against the Kashmiri people.
Mr. President,
14. As the Secretary-General has observed, the world is also witnessing the disturbing rise in racial and religious hate and violence. One of its gravest manifestations is rising Islamophobia in several parts of the world. The worst manifestation of Islamophobia is the officially-inspired campaign of the “Hindutva” adherents in India against Muslims. Apart from murder and lynching by fanatical Hindu mobs, there are now calls for outright genocide of Muslims in India.
15. I would like to draw attention to the statement made recently by the Head of “Genocide Watch”, Professor Gregory Stanton, in which he stated: “We are warning that genocide could very well happen in India.” We call on the Secretary-General and the United Nations to take decisive steps to combat Islamophobia and to prevent the danger of genocide against the Muslims of India.
Mr. President,
16. Pakistan concurs with the Secretary-General’s analysis of the triple threat posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the reversal of development progress in the developing countries, and the existential threat of climate change. Yesterday, I had the honour to present the position and proposals of the Group of 77 and China on the response required to address this triple crisis confronting the developing countries.
17. We are heartened by the Secretary-General’s call for collective action to address inequality and promote universal vaccination on an emergency basis. We endorse his important call for restructuring the global financial architecture and provide the essential financial resources and support required by the developing countries to recover from pandemic, revive their prospects of realizing the SDGs and respond to the challenge of climate change.
Mr. President,
18. My delegation looks forward to the consideration of the Secretary-General’s Report on “Our Common Agenda”. This report contains numerous proposals for action which are to be considered in the process initiated by the General Assembly resolution A/76/6 of 15 November which you will commence next month through discussion in 5 clusters. We anticipate being briefed by the Secretary-General in advance of the discussions in the process. Agreements on a reformed and strengthened multilateralism, on a United Nations 2.0, can be best achieved through an open, inclusive and consensual process.
I thank you.
