RAWALPINDI: In an obvious reference to the Kashmir problem, President Yahya Khan has reminded the United Nations on the occasion of its 25th anniversary, that “large sections of humanity are still being denied the exercise of their inalienable right of self-determination”.

In his message issued for the occasion, which is being celebrated throughout the world on June 26, the President has pointed out that “the organisation which was conceived to bring about the just settlement of the disputes has remained content with temporary, and often precarious, cease-fires. Even in this day and age, an aggressor was able to reap the rewards of his aggression and the principle of the inadmissibility of territorial acquisition by war, though consistently affirmed, was not uniformly enforced”.

The President reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to the ideals contained in the United Nations Charter but regretted that these ideals were not fulfilled. “It is a cause for regret that even after experiences of 25 years the basic principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations are far from fulfilment.”

Elaborating, the President said that colonialism had not yet been completely liquidated, racialism was continuing and wars continued to be perpetrated by man against man.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2020