UNGA president urges ‘no change in J&K status’ unless resolved

Islamabad: President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Volkan Bozkir on Thursday said the status of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute must not be changed unless resolved as per the resolutions of UN Security Council.

Addressing at a joint presser with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the UNGA president said the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir lay with the implementation of the UN Charter and through peaceful means as decided between Pakistan and India under Simla Agreement.

The UNGA president urged the parties on both sides to “refrain from changing the status of the dispute” otherwise.

He said the Palestine issue worldwide had received more political win than the J&K dispute and suggested Pakistan to bring the issue of the latter to the UN platform “more strongly”.

Volkan Bozkir, who arrived here Wednesday on a three-day visit, focused his press conference on the issues of Palestine, Jammu and Kashmir, Afghanistan, and the role of UN in handling the conflicts.

On Palestine, Bozkir said, “We have captured the momentum and the eye of the storm. When the political structure is ready for something, nothing will stop it.”

He lauded Foreign Minister Qureshi for “representing Pakistan in a good way” to highlight the Palestine issue internationally joined by his other counterparts.

“[I] witnessed that in last UN meeting on Palestine, your leadership was very important that moved towards success,” he said.

As president of UNGA, he said, it was his duty to remain impartial, however said that “impartiality could be defined” in other words.

“For a case like Palestine, I think that helping people and giving them a just solution to their problem is impartiality,” he said. Also, the goal of ending occupation and achieving two independent viable states side by sides in mutual recognition to the pre-1969 settlement is important, he added.

The UNGA president said Pakistan along with Turkey was playing an important role in the restoration of peace in Afghanistan, which he said, could have its effects on an international and regional basis.

He said termed Pakistan his “second home” and added that the love between Pakistan and Turkey was not due to any financial reasons, but a connection of hearts.

He drew attention to the importance of wearing a face mask by putting on a green mask and necktie, as a gesture to honour Pakistan’s national colour and flag.

He mentioned the charisma of Prime Minister Imran Khan and the support he gained at the international fora, which he said was important for Pakistan.

Bozkir also appreciated PM Khan’s tree plantation campaigns and the ambitious 10 billion tree project.

On the ongoing UN Security Council reforms, he stressed a balance among the UNGA, UNSC and the Secretary-General.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said he apprised President Volkan Bozkir about the dire situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and drew his attention on the similarity of Palestine and J&K disputes.

“Both Palestinians and Kashmiri demand self-determination and protection from demographic destruction and violation of human rights. The UN must play its role in honour of its own pledges,” he said.

He said the Kashmir dispute was a reality that could not be ignored or erased from the UN agenda.

He warned that the same simmering situation of Palestine and Kashmir could blow into a fireball in the Middle East and South Asia.

To a question regarding Pakistan’s position on the stance of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he said at the very important meeting of the Human Rights Council taking place in Geneva, Pakistan’s ambassador Khalil Hashmi would move a resolution on Israel’s war crimes and genocide.

He expressed confidence that the western societies that believed in human rights would actually take concrete steps to draw the attention of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on human rights violations and war crimes taking place in Gaza and Western Bank, where the holy site of three religions – Islam, Judaism and Christianity, was situated.

Qureshi said on Palestine, the “first milestone” had been achieved, adding that “as a Muslim Ummah, we look towards the revival of the peace process as the fire was not fully extinguished.”

He said dialogue, peaceful co-existence and a two-State solution in accordance with the UN resolutions was the only sustainable solution.

Earlier, the Foreign Minister discussed with President Bozkir a wide range of political and socio-economic issues on the UN agenda including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, the situation in Palestine, Afghan peace process, reform of the UN Security Council, equitable access to COVID-19 Vaccines, and Financing for Sustainable Development.

The Foreign Minister apprised Volkan Bozkir about the grave human rights and humanitarian situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The Foreign Minister stressed that India’s systematic efforts to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory were in contravention of international law, including the 4th Geneva Convention.

The Foreign Minister called for a just and peaceful solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

Focusing on the importance of the UN reforms, the Foreign Minister underscored the need to transform the Organization into a more effective, transparent, democratic, accountable and efficient body. Appreciating the role of President Bozkir in that regard, he reiterated Pakistan’s support for a comprehensive and consensus-based reform of the UN Security Council.

The Foreign Minister highlighted Pakistan’s positive contribution in facilitating the Afghan peace process and reiterated Pakistan’s support for a negotiated political settlement for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan, through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process.

Welcoming the PGA’s initiative of “Vaccine 4 All”, the Foreign Minister re-emphasized Pakistan’s call for universal access to affordable vaccines for COVID-19. He stressed the importance of removing export restrictions on vaccines and essential materials for the benefit of humanity.

The Foreign Minister further stressed the need for enhanced international cooperation, under UN auspices, to end illicit financial flows and enhance investments in sustainable infrastructure in order to meet the sustainable development and climate goals.