Dastgir dismisses impression about Pakistan’s isolation in UN

ISLAMABAD, Nov 4 (APP): Minister for Commerce, Engr.
Khurram Dastgir Khan on Wednesday brushed aside the
impression that Pakistan was in isolation in the United
Nations, especially after not being re-elected as member
of its Human rights Council.
“Impression of isolation in UN is not correct,
Pakistan is presently member of 14 different bodies of
UN and it also has been elected as a member of Shanghai
Cooperation Origination recently,” he said this while
winding up discussion on an adjournment motion.
The motion was moved by Senator Saleem Mandviwal
regarding failure of foreign policy of Pakistan on
account of non-election of Pakistan as Member in the
United Nations Human Rights council.
He said that Pakistan had conducted an effective
campaign in support of its candidature for United
Nations Human Rights Commission.
Dastgir said the Prime Minister’s Advisor on
Foreign Affairs had written letters to the Foreign
Ministers of other countries to seek support for
membership of Council.
He said bilateral meetings were also held with
different countries to seek support in this regard.
The Minister said Pakistan had the support of 120
members which was sufficient for Pakistan to be elected
as member of the Council but regretted that all the
votes were not polled.
However, he said, Pakistan bagged 105 votes in the
elections. He said Pakistan’s relations with other countries
were strengthening including Russia.
Khurram Dastgir said Pakistan was an ardent
advocate of Kashmir cause and will continue to raise the
issue forcefully at UN bodies including the Human Rights
Council.He said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif,
recently in his speech in United Nations, had
effectively raised the issue of Kashmir.
“Pakistan will raise the issue of self-
determination of Kashmiris at every international forum
besides atrocities of Indian army in held Kashmir,” he
added.He said Pakistan was playing an effective role in
war against terrorism and operation against terrorists
had considerably decreased terrorist activities in the
country.”Pakistan will do whatever is required to protect
the citizens of the country,” he added.
He said Pakistan was also playing its due role in
the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC).