UNITED NATIONS: Citing ceasefire violations by the Indian army over Eidul Azha holidays, Pakistan on Tuesday called upon United Nations to exercise its “responsibility” in resolving the festering Kashmir dispute.

Addressing the UN General Assembly Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Masood Khan called upon the Indian government to immediately cease fire and help preserve tranquility and that UNMOGIP must be enabled to play its role in monitoring the ceasefire.

Ambassador Masood Khan said Pakistan was pursuing a policy of constructive engagement in the neighbourhood to resolve differences and to enhance economic opportunities for the region.

He said that longstanding, festering issues could not be swept under the carpet.

“As Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said before this assembly: The core issue of Jammu and Kashmir has to be resolved through negotiations, in accordance with the wishes of its people. In this regard, he reminded the United Nations of its own responsibility,” he added.

The Pakistani envoy said that in the ongoing fight against terrorism Pakistan was determined to eliminate this threat from its soil. “Our heroic armed forces are taking out terrorists, dismantling their hideouts and networks, and choking the vicious sources that feed them. Our entire nation stands united to defeat this evil force and its ideology of hate.”

On UN reforms, Pakistan reiterated that it should be comprehensive and that the Security Council should reflect the interests of all member states — small, medium-sized and large — and not the ambitions of a few.

He recalled what the prime minister of Pakistan told this assembly last month: “There should be no new permanent seats in the council. This will be contrary to the democratic character of this world body”.

Pakistan expressed support to the efforts of the international community to oppose the reign of terror unleashed by the ISIS, a phenomenon that does not have sanction of any religion or denomination and stressed the need to steer warring forces in Syria towards dialogue and reconciliation.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2014