UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21 (APP): Following are the highlights of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif address to the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
— On behalf of Kashmiri people and Pakistani nation, I demand an independent inquiry into the extra-judicial killings, and a UN fact finding mission to investigate brutalities
perpetrated by the Indian occupying forces, so that those guilty of these atrocities are punished.
— Pakistan fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination, as promised to them by several Security Council resolutions. Their struggle is a legitimate
one for liberation from alien occupation.
–The Security Council must honour its commitment by implementing its own decisions. This General Assembly must demand that India deliver on the commitments its leaders
solemnly made on many occasion.
–To this end, steps should be taken by the United Nations to de-militarize Jammu and Kashmir and undertake consultations with India, Pakistan and the true representatives of the Kashmiri people to implement the resolutions of the Security Council. In this context, we welcome the offer of good offices by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
–Peace and normalization between Pakistan and India cannot be achieved without resolution of the Kashmir dispute. This is an objective evaluation, not a partisan position.
–The international community ignores the danger of rising tensions in South Asia, at its own peril.
— Confrontation should not be our destiny in South Asia
— Today, from this rostrum, I would also like to reiterate our offer to India to enter into a serious and sustained dialogue for the peaceful resolution of all outstanding
disputes, especially Jammu and Kashmir.
— For its part, Pakistan is committed to the establishment of strategic stability in the region. It neither wants, nor it is engaged in an arms race with India but will take whatever
measures are necessary to maintain credible deterrence.
— We will not allow externally sponsored terrorism and threats of destabilization to cause turbulence in Pakistan.
— Pakistan’s Operation Zarb-e-Azb is the largest, most robust and most successful anti-terrorism campaign anywhere in the world, deploying 200,000 of our security forces.
–Our priority goal of economic development requires internal peace and stability. My country has been the principal victim of terrorism including that supported, sponsored and financed from abroad.
–Tens of thousands of our citizens and thousands of our security personnel have been killed or injured in terrorist attacks.
— This has only reinforced our resolve to eliminate the scourge of terrorism. Our comprehensive strategy of law enforcement and targeted military operations has produced
remarkable results and enabled Pakistan to turn the tide against terrorism.
— Our comprehensive National Action Plan has the complete endorsement of our people and our Parliament as well as our security forces, all of whom have made heroic sacrifices to defeat terrorism.
— Terrorism, however, is now a global phenomenon, which must be addressed comprehensively and in all its forms, including State terrorism.
— We will not win the fight against terrorism and violent extremism so long as we do not address their root causes. These lie in poverty and ignorance, political and social
injustice and oppression, foreign intervention and occupation and denial of the legitimate rights of peoples and nations, especially the right to self-determination.
— Pakistan has long proposed that the most viable course to end decades of conflict and sufferings in Afghanistan is dialogue.
— Progress will be assured only when the Afghan parties themselves conclude that there is no military solution to the Afghan war, and work assiduously, through a meaningful
dialogue process, for achieving reconciliation and peace at home.
— Over three and a half decades of conflict and chaos in Afghanistan has had grave security and economic consequences for Pakistan.
— The world is at a historic inflection point.
— Competition between the major powers is becoming more confrontational. This can pose serious threats to peace across Asia.
— The international order established after the Second World War is passing away, but a new order has yet to emerge.
— A new Cold War threatens to engulf Europe.
— Turmoil is intensifying in the Middle East. International efforts to defeat Daesh are therefore urgent.
— Peace cannot be built when injustice prevails. The long festering tragedy of Palestine demands determined action by the international community.
— As a responsible nuclear weapon state, Pakistan will continue to cooperate with all international efforts that seek to promote fair and equitable solutions to disarmament and
non-proliferation challenges.
–Pakistan has a vital stake in ending conflicts, fostering peace, fighting terrorism, strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, generating global growth and overcoming the challenges of environmental degradation.
— We can achieve these goals, and create a new and peaceful world order, only through the United Nations and by strict adherence to the principles of its Charter.
