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ISLAMABAD, April 12: Pakistan on Saturday said governance of Iraq was the right of Iraqi people which should be restored to them as soon as possible.
“Pakistan is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation in Iraq. It is clear that Government of President Saddam Hussein is no longer functioning. This has been confirmed by the Iraqi Permanent Representative in New York,” a foreign office spokesman said in a statement.
The spokesman said Pakistan’s position on the situation was based on principles that is “governance of Iraq is the right of the Iraqi people, and therefore it should be restored to them as soon as possible”.
He said the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iraq must be preserved and also its rights over its natural resources. He said the Security Council must resume its responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security in Iraq.
The United Nations, the spokesman said, should have a central role in shaping the future of Iraq as well as in addressing the humanitarian needs and reconstruction of Iraq.
About the functioning of Pakistan’s embassy in Baghdad, he said the embassy staff was temporarily withdrawn because of the outbreak of hostilities in that country. “We intend to send back our ambassador as soon as it is possible from the security point of view,” he added.
The spokesman said the relief assistance was ready and “we await finalization of logistic arrangements so that humanitarian assistance can immediately be dispatched (to Iraq)”.
PALESTINIAN ISSUE: Pakistan expressed deep concern over Israel’s continued acts of aggression against Palestinians and reiterated its call for an immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian territories.
As a result of latest Israeli aggression, 12 civilians have been killed and 47 wounded, including 29 children, a foreign office spokesman said in a statement.
“Israel’s incessant attacks appear to be a part of its deliberate policy of sabotaging all peace initiatives, including the launch of the internationally backed ‘roadmap’ for peace in the Middle East and an attempt to take advantage of the international community’s pre-occupation with events in Iraq,” the spokesman said.
He said Israel must refrain from exacerbating tensions by undermining the Palestinian leadership, destroying its administrative structures and re-occupying Palestinian territories.
“Pakistan reiterates its earlier calls to the international community to compel Israel to immediately withdraw its forces from all Palestinian territories,” the spokesman said.—APP
