ISLAMABAD: The people of Pakistan earnestly hope that the United Nations will play its due role for the resolution of the Kashmir issue as per the aspirations of Kashmiri people and will help them to achieve their right to self-determination, says Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry.

Talking to reporters after the launch of the Urdu version of a UN book Basic Facts about the United Nations at the Quaid-i-Azam University here on Monday, he emphasised that the UN should play its role in resolving the issue of Kashmir.

While referring to the violations of the Line of Control by India and its forces’ shelling across the working boundary, he said Pakistan hoped that the UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan would submit a report to the Security Council and its members so that the international community could know the facts.

Answering a question, he said that a dossier on the Indian interference in internal affairs of Pakistan was being prepared and would soon be presented to the Security Council and its members since Pakistan had solid evidence of Indian involvement.

The United Nations Day, observed on Oct 24, is an important day with reference to the Kashmir issue since the moral and legal strength of the issue comes from the Security Council resolutions. It is also important that the international community, including India, implement the UN resolutions in accordance with the UN Charter. Pakistan fully respects the UN Charter and follows its principles. Kashmir was the oldest issue together with the issue of Palestine on the UN agenda, he said.

Mr Chaudhry said Pakistan had strongly protested over Indian violations of the LoC and the working boundary. The protest has also been registered at the diplomatic level. Pakistan fully respects the ceasefire of 2003 and has never made any violation of the LoC or the working boundary. The country had always responded to the Indian firing, he added.

The foreign secretary regretted that Indian forces targeted civilian population across the LoC. He said Pakistan hoped that the Indian government would refrain from violations at the LoC and take steps for solving the issues.

When asked about the arrival of an Afghan Taliban delegation in Islamabad, the foreign secretary said he was unaware of any such delegation, but said Pakistan wanted to see the reconciliation process in Afghanistan moving forward.

In this regard, he referred to the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) consisting of Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and the United States wherein it was decided that member countries of the group would maintain contacts with the Taliban in their own ways and move forward the reconciliation efforts. Pakistan was also making efforts to move forward the reconciliation together with other QCG member countries, he said.

Basic facts about UN

The Urdu translation of the book Basic Facts about the United Nations was launched to mark the United Nations Day.

The event was attended, among others, by UN Resident Coordinator Neil Buhne and Vice Chancellor of the Quaid-i-Azam University Dr Javed Ashraf.

The book provides an overview of the organisation’s work throughout the world, including current peacekeeping and peace-building missions along with essential information on UN membership and structure.

“The UN has made enormous progress in international law, peace and development after the end of the Cold War,” said Mr Chaudhry. “The Urdu translation of this handbook will increase awareness about the UN’s work,” he added.

“With 60 per cent of the population below 30 years of age, Pakistan is playing a leading role in the UN in many ways. It can only continue to do so if more Pakistanis are aware of the UN and its mandate,” said Mr Buhne.

“It is extremely important for the UN to reach out to Urdu speakers in Pakistan,” said the Director of the UN Information Centre, Vitoria Cammarota. “To meet the challenges of the globalised world today, it is essential that citizens all over the world are informed about the work of the United Nations so that they actively contribute to it,” he added.

A ‘UN Corner’ was also unveiled at the School of Politics and International Relations (SPIR) library. It is a bookshelf that serves as a repository of newsletters, journals, reports, magazines and books published by the UN.

“This UN Corner provides a treasure of knowledge to support students in their research work and to empower Pakistani youth for their future careers,” said Swiss Ambassador Marc P. George, adding that the Swiss Development Cooperation had decided to support the roll-out of the UN Corner to all government universities throughout the country.

“The Quaid-i-Azam University is a microcosm of Pakistan, truly representative of our culturally diverse national demography. The UN Corner will prove to be a knowledge hub for both our students and faculty,” said Director of SPIR Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad.

Published in Dawn October 25th, 2016