Pakistan delivered a stinging rebuke to Indian policy of repression in the disputed Kashmir region under its control with foreign minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi saying New Delhi prefers politics over peace.
The Pakistani diplomat, speaking in Urdu language, told the United Nations Islamabad desired good relations with India but New Delhi continue to suspend dialogue on “flimsy grounds”.
“They (Indian leaders) preferred politics over peace,” he told the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly taking place in New York.
Mahmoud’s speech in Urdu language was the first by a Pakistani diplomat to the world’s highest forum. It was distributed in simultaneous translations in all UN official language — English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Arabic.
Dialogue, the foreign minister said, was the only way to address long-standing issues, including Kashmir.
He said Imran Khan-led Pakistan will brook no compromise on the interests of the nation, the sovereignty of the State, or the security of its people.
“Our Government is keen to pursue a policy of partnerships for peace, security and prosperity in our immediate neighborhood and beyond, He told world leaders from around the world.
Qureshi issued a strong condemnation of India’s cancellation of a planned meeting he was to have with his counterpart Sushma Swaraj in New York.
India, he said used the pretext of stamps issued months ago, of a Kashmiri activist and depicting grave human rights violations, including pellet gun victims, as an excuse to back out from the talks.
“The unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute hinders the realization of the goal of durable peace between our two countries,” Queshi said.
The Pakistani foreign minister spoke after Indian delegate delivered a Pakistan-centric speech to the 193-member Assembly.
“For over seventy years now, it has remained on the agenda of the UN Security Council and a blot on the conscience of humanity,” he said pointing that the people of occupied Jammu & Kashmir have continued the struggle for their rights of self-determination in the face of overwhelming oppression and gross violations of their fundamental human rights by the Indian occupation forces.
