UNITED NATIONS(National Times)- Pakistan has called on the United Nations Security Council to take urgent steps to resolve the Kashmir dispute, said the country’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad. The remarks from Ahmad came as Pakistan took over the council\u2019s presidency for July. He said that the long-standing issue of Kashmir is causing serious tensions between Pakistan and India. Speaking at a packed press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, he said it was time for the world to act and not let the matter gather dust. \u201cIt is time that this (Kashmir dispute) be addressed, and I would say this is not only a responsibility of Pakistan \u2014 we are here temporarily, two years as a non-permanent member,\u201d he told a crowded press conference at UN Headquarters in New York, while responding to a question. \u201cI think it\u2019s the responsibility of the Security Council itself, and particularly the permanent members, to see that they take certain steps to actually get their own resolutions implemented,\u201d Ambassador Asim Iftikhar said. \u201cThat\u2019s the way forward,\u201d he added. Ahead of the press conference, the 15-member Council met and approved the programme of work for the month of July. \u201cOur approach is firmly rooted in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter \u2014 peaceful settlement of disputes, sovereign equality, respect for international law and multilateralism,\u201d Ambassador Asim Iftikhar told the UN corps of correspondents. Pakistan, he said, will convene two signature events during its presidency \u2014 a high-level debate on Promoting International Peace and Security through Multilateralism and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes, scheduled for July 22, and on UN-OIC cooperation on July 24. Both debates will be chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar. Moreover, DPM\/FM Dar will also preside over the quarterly open debate on Palestine on July 23. \u201cThe debates stem from the reality that today\u2019s crises often emerge from unresolved disputes, the erosion of international obligations, and the underutilisation of peaceful means enshrined in Chapter VI of the Charter,\u201d the Pakistani envoy said. \u201cWe aim to: reflect on the effectiveness of dispute settlement mechanisms; discuss obstacles to implementation of Council decisions; explore ways to enhance diplomacy, mediation and technical support; and reinforce the commitments made in the Pact for the Future to preventive diplomacy and peaceful dispute resolution.\u201d On Kashmir, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar also said that all issues on the Security Council\u2019s agenda can be discussed at any time, and the decades-old dispute over the Himalayan state was on the agenda under the India\u2013Pakistan question. The UN Security Council has pronounced on it in several resolutions that, among other elements, grant the Kashmiri people their right to self-determination, he said. \u201cIt is a festering dispute. It has several dimensions,\u201d the Pakistan envoy said, noting its peace and security dimension, political and legal dimension, and also a human rights dimension. \u201cThis is an issue that has remained unresolved. It is a cause of tensions and frictions between India and Pakistan. It is impeding the development of friendly relations in our region. It is time that this be addressed,\u201d he added. The Council, he said, will remain focused on key global issues, including the situation in the Middle East and developments in Africa, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The presidency of the Security Council \u2014 the world body\u2019s power centre \u2014 is part of Pakistan\u2019s two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UNSC, which began in January 2025. The presidency rotates monthly among its 15 members in alphabetical order. Pakistan\u2019s earlier terms on the Council were in 2012\u201313, 2003\u201304, 1993\u201394, 1983\u201384, 1976\u201377, 1968\u201369 and 1952\u201353. Pakistan was elected as a non-permanent member with the overwhelming support of the UN membership, securing 182 votes out of 193.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS(National Times)- Pakistan has called on the United Nations Security Council to take urgent steps to resolve the Kashmir dispute, said the country’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad. The remarks from Ahmad came as Pakistan took over the council\u2019s presidency for July. He said that the long-standing issue of Kashmir […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":107288,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-107287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n