Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, who assumed the UN Security Council’s presidency for July, urged UNSC and its permanent members on Wednesday to resolve the Kashmir dispute.  He underscored the need for resolving the Kashmir dispute, which he said was causing tensions and frictions between India and Pakistan. 

“It is time that this (Kashmir dispute) be addressed, and I would say this is not only a responsibility of Pakistan — we are here temporarily, two years as a non-permanent member, ” he told a crowded press conference at UN Headquarters in New York, while responding to a question.  “I think it’s the responsibility of the Security Council itself, and particularly the permanent members to see that they take certain steps to actually get their own resolutions implemented,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar said.

“That’s the way forward,” he added.  Ahead of the press conference, the 15-member Council met and approved the programme of work for the month of July.  “Our approach is firmly rooted in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, peaceful settlement of disputes, sovereign equality, respect for international law and multilateralism,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar told UN corps of correspondents. 

Pakistan, he said, will convene two signature events during its Presidency –a high-level debate on “Promoting International Peace and Security through Multilateralism and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes,” scheduled for 22 July, and on UN-OIC cooperation on July 24. Both debates will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar.  Moreover, DPM/FM Dar would also preside over the quarterly open debate on Palestine on July 23. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)