UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Munir Akram emphasized the importance of promoting a culture of peace by countering fascism, aggression and occupation.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on the topic of culture of peace, Ambassador Munir Akram expressed deep concern over the growing hatred, violence and conflicts around the world, particularly in Palestine and Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
He highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to combat Islamophobia and condemned the manifestation of Islamophobia in India under the BJP-RSS government.
Referring incidents of violence against Muslims, Christians and Dalits in India, Ambassador Akram bitterly criticized the Hindutva ideology in India and its enforcement by the Indian government.
He also condemned the Indian’s atrocities in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and demanded the right of self-determination for the people of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir will never be ‘normal’ until the people of Jammu and Kashmir are allowed to exercise their right to self-determination through a plebiscite held under UN auspices, as called for by several Security Council resolutions and accepted by India, Ambassador Akram said.
“The right of peoples to self-determination is being brutally suppressed, especially in Palestine and in Jammu and Kashmir,” Ambassador Akram said, adding, “We see the spread of discrimination, bigotry, xenophobia and Islamophobia even in mature democracies.”
“The Jammu and Kashmir dispute is an open wound which can once again trigger a disastrous conflict between Pakistan and India. It needs to be resolved urgently in accordance with the resolutions of the Security Council and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.”
He warned against the aggression of the BJP-RSS government and stressed the urgent need to oppose Hindutva fascism in South Asia for peace. He stressed the importance of promoting a culture of peace while countering fascism, aggression and occupation.
“Unless Hindutva fascism is opposed, unless the sense of impunity of the BJP-RSS is ended, unless the Indian Muslims are protected against genocide, and unless the Kashmir dispute is peacefully resolved, wider violence and conflict in South Asia is a real and present danger,” the Pakistani envoy said in his speech that comprehensively dealt with how New Delhi’s policies were posing a threat to peace in the region.
