Pakistan on Friday made a strong plea to resolve the two “oldest unresolved disputes on the UN agenda,” Kashmir and Palestine, to enable people inhabiting these lands to exercise their right to self-determination.
“Self-determination is a basic human right which cannot be applied selectively,” Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said at the annual co-ordination meeting of OIC foreign ministers, who met on the sidelines of the 66th session of UN General Assembly. “We are meeting here at a time when the Palestinian aspirations for a national homeland appear to be entering a decisive phase,” she said, referring the application submitted by Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas for UN membership as a state.
“At this critical juncture, we stand with our Palestinian brethren for their legitimate demand for an independent State with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, and its recognition by the United Nations,” she said. Referring to Kashmir, she said the prospect of a lasting peace in South Asia was directly linked to a just solution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
She also asked the OIC to raise its voice in support of the Kashmiri people’s demand for an international investigation into the unmarked mass graves discovered in Indian-Occupied Kashmir. Referring to Afghanistan, she said Pakistan was closely working with the Afghan Government and the international community to ensure its early return to peace. She said, “we fully support President Hamid Karzai’s initiative for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process.”
She also condemned the assassination of former president Burhanuddin Rabbani. She also said Pakistan remained committed to eliminating terrorism. She also said the linking of Islam to terrorism was false and referred to the Norway incident to say “terrorists have no religion, no nationality and no values.” She said hate against Islam should not be allowed under the garb of free speech. She also called upon the OIC to play a pro-active role in seeking adequate representation I an expanded Security Council.
She also said, “The Muslim World is passing through a moment of unprecedented political awakening and reckoning and there are signs of a new Islamic renaissance in the 21st Century.” Seperately, Khar discussed the Afghanistan situation with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird. They also discussed ways to enhance trade and economic cooperation between the two countries including possibility for preferential access to Pakistani export products in the Canadian markets.
The need for opening Pakistani banking channels in Canada also came under consideration. Seperately, Khar met Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr. Both agreed to enhance cooperation in all international for a, including the OIC, and enhance economic ties. Amr also invited Khar to visit Egypt. Seperately, Khar met Iceland Foreign Minister Ossur Sharpheoinsson and appreciated it stance on Palestine’s quest for statehood.
The two discussed possibilities to enhance cooperation, especially in fisheries and agriculture.