PM tells UN India ‘missed opportunity’ for peace

• Sharif rakes up Kashmir issue at UN address, says resolution of dispute vital for regional peace
• Says Pakistan disappointed by India’s cancellation of foreign-secretary level talks
• Says Pakistan committed to highest standard of nuclear safety

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Friday made an emphatic call for resolution of the Kashmir conflict, saying it was imperative for peace, security and economic uplift of South Asians.

He said the region must proceed with more “dialogue and diplomacy” following missed opportunities, including cancellation of last month’s Pakistan-India foreign-secretary level talks.

In a wide-ranging address to the 69th UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Sharif laid out Pakistan’s vision for peaceful relations in the region.

In this respect, he also stressed to the 193-member world body that Afghanistan – currently passing through political and security transitions – should become a “pivot of strategic cooperation, rather than of rivalry.”

Sharif also underscored Pakistan’s commitment to highest standard of nuclear safety and said the country is following a policy of reliable deterrence but cannot be oblivious to the “emerging security scenarios and buildup of armaments”.

Sharif said Islamabad is striving to overcome challenges of terrorism – which he condemned in all its forms and manifestations – and sketched out some of the economic and energy policies his government is pursuing for welfare of its people.

With regard to challenges in the form of extreme weather patterns harming economies, he said: “Pakistan has directly experienced such a calamity only recently. The monsoon floods in Pakistan have killed hundreds of people, displaced millions, destroyed and damaged homes, livelihoods, infrastructure, cattle and crops. We are mobilizing all our resources and ingenuity to provide relief and to ensure recovery,” he said.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEACE:

Speaking in the regional security context, the prime minister said Pakistan aspires to build a peaceful neighborhood by pursuing a policy of constructive engagement, he said.

“In South Asia, our people have missed opportunities for prosperity because of unresolved conflicts. We have a choice today: continue with the status quo or to seize the moment to resolve all outstanding issues and free up our shared energies for cooperation. To take this course of high statesmanship, we need more, not less, dialogue and diplomacy. We need to respect each other’s rights and sensibilities. We must have relationships based on equality, mutual respect and transparency.”

“We were disappointed at the cancellation of the foreign secretary-level talks. The world community, too, rightly saw it as another missed opportunity,” he said in a reference to India’s unilateral cancellation of talks, which were to be held in August.

“Pakistan is convinced that we must remain engaged in the dialogue process for settling disputes and building economic and trade relations. Let us not ignore the dividends of peace.”

He reminded the global gathering of leaders that more than six decades ago, the United Nations passed resolutions to hold a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir and that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are still waiting for the fulfillment of that promise.

“Many generations of Kashmiris have lived their lives under occupation, accompanied by violence and abuse of their fundamental rights. Kashmiri women, in particular, have undergone immense suffering and humiliation.

“For decades, attempts have been made, both under UN auspices and bilaterally in the spirit of the Lahore Declaration, to resolve this dispute.

“The core issue of Jammu and Kashmir has to be resolved. This is the responsibility of the international community. We cannot draw a veil on the issue of Kashmir, until it is addressed in accordance with the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

“Pakistan is ready to work for resolution of this problem through negotiations. Our support and advocacy of the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir is our historic commitment and a duty, as a party to the Kashmir dispute.”

AFGHANISTAN AND REFUGEES:

About Pakistan’s western neighbour Afghanistan, he noted that the country is going through momentous security, political and economic transitions.

“As always, Pakistan stands in solidarity with the fraternal Afghan people. I congratulate the people of Afghanistan over the successful completion of the electoral process and offer our warm felicitations and good wishes to the new Afghan leadership.

“Afghanistan should become a pivot of strategic cooperation, rather than of rivalry. In the past year and a half, we have consciously reached out to Afghanistan to address difficult issues and build on convergences. We have made headway in this effort,” he said.

The prime minister told the top diplomatic forum Pakistan continues to host, for the past 30 years, millions of Afghan refugees on its soil. This is the largest refugee caseload in the world. The international community must maintain and enhance support for the repatriation of these refugees and provide for their reintegration in Afghanistan.

Referring to the ongoing Zarb-e-Azb military operation, Sharif said Pakistan has launched a massive operation to eliminate terrorism.

“Complementary counter-terrorism measures on the Afghan side of the border are essential to achieve optimal results,” he said.

Turning to the Middle East, the prime minister said this past summer, the people of Gaza were subjected to mass atrocities by Israel.

“We condemn the indiscriminate killings of civilians which amounts to genocide. From this platform, I once again convey Pakistan’s condolences and sympathies to the people of Palestine over their continuing plight.”

“We welcome the ceasefire between Gaza and Israel. But next steps must also be taken. The blockade of Gaza must be lifted, Palestinian prisoners freed and illegal settlements halted. The United Nations should facilitate a just and lasting solution of the Palestinian issue, based on the relevant UN resolutions.”

Speaking about the Syrian conflict, he said Islamabad “calls on all parties in Syria to renounce military and militant means and hold dialogue to restore peace and stability in their historic land.”

“The emergence of new militant entities in the Middle East once again illustrate that terrorism is a global threat. This primitive force in Iraq and Syria is an aberration, which has no sanction of any religion.  It must be countered with unified and resolute will,” he said.

NUCLEAR RESTRAINT AND DETERENCE:

Prime Minister Sharif said Pakistan will pursue a policy of nuclear restraint and credible minimum deterrence.

“Pakistan is not participating in any arms race in the region. Yet we cannot be oblivious to the emerging security scenarios and buildup of armaments. We too, have the obligation to maintain a robust and reliable deterrence.”

“Pakistan is a state with advanced nuclear technology, with an experience of more than 40 years. We are a mainstream partner in the international non-proliferation regime.  Pakistan also has a stringent national export control system that is fully harmonized with international export control regimes. Though a non-member, we are abiding by their guidelines.”

“Pakistan ought to be a part of these export control regimes, especially the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Pakistan also qualifies for full access to civil nuclear technology, to overcome its energy shortages and spur economic growth.”

Earlier, Sharif had urged United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to take steps for the peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant resolutions of UN Security Council.

In a meeting with Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines of 69th UN General Assembly session, Prime Minister Sharif pointed out that Kashmir was one of the long-standing conflicts on the agenda of the Security Council.