Tackling global challenges
New York
Pakistan permanent representative to United Nations (UN), Munir Akram has expressed the hope that US under the new Biden administration will revive its active engagement at the UN to enable the world community for effectively responding to global challenges such as the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, terrorism and promoting Sustainable Development goals (SDGs).
Addressing a virtual seminar organized by US Army War College, he said, “Everyone at the UN is very happy that America is back, and the new U.S.
administration has committed itself to participating actively in the UN, reviving multilateralism, and working with other member states to promote the goals and objectives of the UN Charter.”
Munir Akram said that Pakistan looks forward to cooperate with the United States at the UN on all key issues.
Based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the US Army War College educates and develops leaders for service at the strategic level while advancing knowledge in the global application of landpower.
The US move, over the last four years, to disengage itself from the U.N. had contributed to the diminution in the importance of the world body, Ambassador Akram told the army officers participating in the seminar.
In his presentation, he explained the key features and functions of the United Nations and its affiliated organs in the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as Pakistan’s active role at the UN, especially in the peace-keeping operations.
The United Nations, top Pakistani diplomat said, has always been an important body for Pakistan because its dispute with India over Jammu and Kashmir was referred to the Security Council in 1947.
The 15-member Council pronounced itself on the dispute, calling for a plebiscite, under the UN auspices, to enable the people of Jammu and Kashmir to determine their own future, and to decide whether they wish to join Pakistan or India, it was pointed out.
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has been stationed since 1948 to monitor the ceasefire between the two countries.
Pakistan has contributed over 200,000 peacekeepers in over 46 UN peacekeeping missions, and promoted actively the role of the UN peacekeeping for the preservation of international peace and security.
At the present moment, Ambassador Akram said Pakistan has a stake in a number of current issues that are before the United Nations.
He said Kashmir became a focus of attention when India abrogated its autonomy in 2019 and divided the occupied region into two parts, prompting Pakistan to raise it’s voice against these illegal measures.
“The situation between India and Pakistan in Kashmir remains a threat to international peace and security,” the Pakistani envoy said.’—INP
