Kashmir struggle no terrorism: N-assets under strict safeguards, UNSC told
By Masood Haider
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 20: Pakistan on Monday rejected India’s efforts at equating the Kashmiri people’s freedom struggle with terrorism, saying that the Kashmir dispute should be resolved in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
Addressing the UN Security Council meeting convened to assess the global war on terrorism, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said: “Equating such a freedom struggle with terrorism is unjust and unacceptable.” He went on to add: “Kashmir dispute can and should be resolved through dialogue between Pakistan and India.”
He told the Security Council meeting being attended by 13 foreign ministers of the UNSC members, including US Secretary of State Colin Powell, that “some states have unfortunately sought to misuse the campaign against terror to denigrate and suppress the right of people to self-determination such as in the occupied Jammu & Kashmir and Palestine.”
He reaffirmed that Pakistan was emphatically on the side of struggling Kashmiri people and that the aspiration of the people of Jammu & Kashmir for self-determination “is sanctioned by the resolutions of the UN Security Council.”
“Their struggle against India’s occupation is a just, legitimate and noble struggle,” he said.
“The international community cannot ignore the phenomenon of state terrorism as a tool of foreign occupation and defiance of UN resolutions. Such state terrorism, like terrorism perpetrated by individuals or groups, results in the killing or maiming of innocents, and must be equally and identically condemned,” he stressed.
Responding to international community’s concerns that nuclear weapons could fall in the hands of terrorists, Islamabad’s top diplomat assured that “Pakistan’s nuclear assets are under strict safeguards and credible custodial controls. With a vigorous security and monitoring system, there has never been any danger of leakage of nuclear or sensitive technologies in Pakistan. Those entrusted with the responsibility in the strategic field are discharging this with professionalism and commitment.”
Kasuri observed that the horrendous attacks of Sept 11 have highlighted the vulnerability of the modern, technologically advanced societies as well as of those who are backward. “We concur with the fear that terrorists may acquire sophisticated technology and weapons of great destructive power.”
However, he pointed out that “we must also acknowledge that the instruments of terror can be multifarious e.g. airplanes and truck bombs have produced greater devastation than the chemical weapons assault by a crazed terrorist organization.”
“The focus of the anti-terror campaign must therefore remain on eliminating the terrorist organizations and groups and in halting support for them,” he added.
“Pakistan is and will remain a key member of the global coalition against international terrorism. As President Musharraf said last year, ‘the strategic decisions we took after Sept 11 are consistent with our moral principles and national interests. Our unstinting support has been critical in the battle against terrorism. This support would continue until our shared objectives are fully met and the evil of terrorism is completely eliminated,’” he said.
Referring to the issue of religion and attempts at equating Islam with terrorism, Kasuri said: “Terrorism has no creed, culture or religion”.
He declared that “Pakistan resolutely rejects attempts to identify our noble religion — Islam — with terrorism.”
“The misrepresentation and slander against Islam must be collectively opposed by the international community, lest it sow the seeds of endemic confrontation between cultures and civilizations. There should be no double standards in combating terrorism. We are surprised that terrorism by other religious fanatics in non-Muslim societies has not been condemned vigorously,” Kasuri said.
“Hate should have no market. It must be stamped out with the same zeal with which the fight against terrorism is being pursued,” he emphasized.
Kasuri said: “We seek to build Pakistan, as envisioned by our founding father, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, as a tolerant, modern, democratic, Islamic state.”
He told the international community that “while collectively opposing terrorism, the international community must also endeavour collectively to promote greater cultural and religious harmony all over the world.”
“To this end, Pakistan has proposed the adoption by the UN General Assembly of a Declaration on Religious and Cultural Understanding, Harmony and Cooperation,” Kasuri said.
In reference to the UNSC meeting to evaluate the global war on terrorism, he said, “Pakistan believes that this ministerial meeting is the beginning of a serious dialogue within the Security Council on ways and means to combat terrorism collectively, comprehensively, effectively and equitably.”
“Success in this historic endeavour will strengthen international peace and security and put to rest the prophecies of those who project a coming clash of civilizations,” he said.
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 20: Pakistan on Monday rejected India’s efforts at equating the Kashmiri people’s freedom struggle with terrorism, saying that the Kashmir dispute should be resolved in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
