UNITED NATIONS: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday highlighting the “worst human rights violations” in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK), and urged the United States to use its ‘good offices’ to help solve bilateral disputes between Pakistan and India.
“I still remember (former) President Clinton’s promise that the US will play its role to help”… resolve “bilateral disputes and issues between Pakistan and India”, he said during a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry, who called on him on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly session.
The prime minister said that more than 107 people had been killed in IHK, with thousands others injured and worst human rights violations being committed at the state level.
“I expect the US administration and Secretary Kerry to use his good offices to help resolve bilateral issues between Pakistan and India,” he added.
Recalling his “constructive meetings” with the US president during the last three years, he emphasised that strong relations between Pakistan and the US remained a mutual desire, adding that this partnership was crucial to ensure regional peace and stability.
He apprised Secretary Kerry of the successes in the field of counterterrorism, particularly the Operation Zarb-e-Azb that had broken the backbone of terrorists.
Secretary Kerry appreciated the efforts of the armed forces of Pakistan, security institutions and police in rooting out terrorism and extremism.
Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif wrote to the leaders of P5 countries and urged them to call upon the Indian government to immediately stop bloodshed in IHK and implement relevant UNSC resolutions.
A statement from the Foreign Office on Monday said the premier had written to heads of the governments and states of the UN Security Council permanent members – China, France, Russian Federation, UK and the US – regarding “grave human rights violations” being perpetrated by the occupation forces in IHK.
While highlighting the violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws in IHK, the premier called upon the permanent members to fulfil their responsibility with regard to the Kashmir dispute.
He pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir was one of the oldest internationally recognised unresolved disputes on the agenda of the UN Security Council.
Despite a lapse of more than 68 years since the adoption of multiple resolutions, the people of Jammu and Kashmir still await the implementation of these resolutions.
