Kuala Lumpur: Pakistan says the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the central impediment to regional peace. This was stated by Additional Foreign Secretary Imran Ahmed Siddiqui at the Senior Officials Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum held in Kuala Lumpur.

According to Radio Pakistan, in his remarks, the Additional Foreign Secretary drew the attention of the forum to the security environment in South Asia. He highlighted India’s unilateral holding in abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty as a grave breach of international obligations. Welcoming the recently agreed ceasefire between Pakistan and India, he reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue and peaceful dispute resolution, with full respect for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.

The Additional Secretary underscored Pakistan’s counterterrorism strategy and its focus on addressing root causes of terrorism. He cautioned against the misuse of counterterrorism narratives to target Muslim communities and expressed Pakistan’s concerns at the rising tide of Islamophobia. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the Palestinian people and condemned the ongoing occupation and violence against the Palestinians.

On regional maritime issues, Siddiqui called for restraint and dialogue in the South China Sea and reiterated Pakistan’s support for the One China Policy and non-interference in China’s internal affairs. He also highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on developing countries and called upon developed nations to fulfill their commitments on finance, technology transfer, and capacity building.

On the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum, the Additional Secretary held bilateral meetings with heads of delegations from several countries, including Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Japan, and Australia, as well as with the Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN. The meetings focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and exchanging views on regional and global issues of mutual importance.