New York 02 Nov 2023: UN Charter key to securing global peace, prosperity & stability. Ambassador Munir Akram has said that the international order is facing severe tensions on account of increased rivalry and stiff competition between the multiple power centers. He said as the challenges to peace and security were multiplying, the US system needed to work out modalities to facilitate their resolution by building consensus.
Ambassador Akram made these remarks while speaking to a delegation of US Army War College that visited the Permanent Mission of Pakistan today in connection with their academic study tour.
Ambassador Akram gave an overview of the United Nations’ performance since its establishment in 1945 in the wake of the Second World War. He said despite its inadequacies and failures in especially resolving the conflicts that involve the right to self-determination, the implementation of the principles governing the UN Charter in letter and spirit could help stabilize the world order, secure peace and stability and fight the shared economic and development challenges.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative said that the UN’s more vital role as a facilitator of dialogue, engagement and coordinated global action against threats such as Covid-19 pandemic was often overlooked. He said that different world bodies such as World Trade Organization, World Health Organization and World Property Organization were doing fantastic work to make the world a better place for all.
He also praised the UN Secretary General for proposing a Common Agenda dealing with several shared global issues, which would lead to a global pact culminating in the Summit of the Future in 2024. “This initiative will help the UN system adjust to the new, complex realities of contemporary times. Throwing light on Pakistan’s work at the United Nations, Ambassador Munir Akram emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to the UN Charter.
He also gave an overview of the Kashmir dispute in historical terms and said that the people of the internationally recognized territory were being kept deprived of their fundamental right to self-determination. He also detailed the illegal and immoral actions India had taken after August 5, 2019 that aimed to unilaterally and illegally alter the status of Jammu and Kashmir. Durable Peace in South Asia will continue to be elusive as long as the Jammu and Kashmir issue is not resolved in line with the UN resolutions and the aspirations of Kashmiris.
Ambassador Akram said that the peacekeeping missions were central to the UN system, stating that Pakistan had historically been one of the most active and largest troop contributors under the UN. He said that from the initial UN Peacekeeping Missions in Congo and Indonesia, Pakistan had contributed about 230,000 troops so far. He said that Pakistan was working closely with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations to propose additional measures to make peacekeeping more robust and effective.
The participants of the US Army War College course, who consisted of different countries, asked the Permanent Representative different questions related to the future of India-Pakistan ties, Afghanistan, the prospects of the multipolar world order, and the reforms within the United Nations Security Council. The delegates thanked Ambassador Akram for his insightful talk and warm hospitality extended to them during their visit to the Pakistan Mission.
Sub Editor: Ghufran