Islamabad favours political solution to Darfur crisis
UNITED NATIONS, July 31: Pakistan on Friday welcomed the emphasis on the need for a political solution of the Darfur crisis.
"We hope and expect that SLA and JEM will adopt a realistic and constructive position in the dialogue which is to be undertaken under the auspices of the African Union (AU) mediation," said Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, Masood Khalid.
He said that parties must negotiate in good faith in this dialogue.
In a statement in explanation of vote after adoption of the resolution on Darfur in the Security Council, Pakistan said "the people and government of Pakistan are as concerned about the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan as other members of the international community."
The US-drafted resolution passed by a vote of 13-0. China and Pakistan abstained, saying they preferred to let negotiations continue.
According to the terms of the adopted resolution, Sudan must report its progress to the Security Council at the end of August. The United Nations Security Council has called on the Sudanese government to disarm Arab militias carrying out attacks in Sudan's western Darfur region.
Masood Khalid said, all the people suffering as a result of this crisis are part of the Islamic Ummah, and therefore, Pakistan fully shares the humanitarian objectives of the resolution.-APP
