New York: At the UN Security Council, Pakistan has reiterated its commitment to peaceful and cooperative relations with all neighbors, including India. Sharing details of the points raised by Pakistan during the closed-door consultations of the UN Security Council on the India-Pakistan Question, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, stated at a press stakeout that Pakistan remains open to dialogue based on mutual respect and sovereign equality.
According to Radio Pakistan, Ahmad emphasized the necessity for an independent, transparent, neutral, and credible investigation into the Pahalgam incident. He asserted that while Pakistan pursues peace, it is determined to defend its interests and safeguard its sovereignty resolutely. Ahmad voiced grave concern over India’s recent unilateral measures, particularly the illegal actions of April 23, military build-up, and inflammatory public statements. These actions, along with credible intelligence of potential escalation, have dangerously raised tensions. While Pakistan does not seek confrontation, it is fully prepared to defend its sovereignty in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Ahmad categorically rejected India’s attempt to implicate Pakistan in the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which has been condemned by Pakistan and all members of the Council. He also raised alarm over India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, emphasizing that water is life, not a weapon, and any attempt to disrupt their flow constitutes aggression, affecting over 240 million Pakistanis.
The UN Security Council was reminded by Ahmad that the core of regional instability is the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He highlighted the ongoing gross human rights violations faced by the Kashmiri people, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and systematic denial of their right to self-determination. Ahmad stressed that lasting peace in South Asia requires the Council to implement its resolutions, including a UN-supervised plebiscite to let Kashmiris determine their future.
Highlighting Pakistan’s sacrifices as a frontline state in the fight against terrorism, Ahmad noted the loss of over 90,000 lives and immense economic setbacks. He urged the Security Council and the Secretary-General to remain actively engaged in peacemaking and preventive diplomacy, stressing the importance of truth, transparency, and accountability in addressing India’s destabilizing actions and involvement in terrorism abroad.