“The lasting peace in South Asia requires the Security Council to implement its own resolutions (a) including the retention of unsupervised referendums in order for Kasimiris to determine his future,” a permanent Pakistan representative told the UN.
“We urge the Security Council and the Executive Director to continue to be actively involved in peacemaking and preventive diplomacy. The role of the Council is not only to observe conflicts from afar, but to prevent them through timely and principled actions,” he added.
Pakistan has called for a closure meeting amid repeated deaths of 26 people amid escalating tensions with India in the April 22 attack in Kashmir on April 22.
Ahmad said Islamabad came to the council “with a message of peace rather than provocation,” but emphasized that “peace does not occur in a vacuum.”
He outlined three main objectives of Pakistan’s involvement. It briefly describes council members about “deteriorating security environments,” encourages de-escalation and reaffirms the centrality of the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir conflict.
“Pakistan does not seek conflict, but is ready to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter,” he said.
Ahmad also rejected what was called “Indian attempt to involve Pakistan” in the attack on Pahargam on April 22nd.
He further raised vigilance over the suspension of India’s Indos Water Treaty with Pakistan, warning that it undermines the legal framework of water sharing decades ago.
Highlighting the ongoing human rights abuses in India-controlled Kashmir, Ahmad said the region suffers from “extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, forced disappearance, torture of homes, restrictions on expression and media, and a systematic refusal torture of the right to self-determination.”
“Peace must be built through dialogue, engagement and respect for international law,” he said. “The Kashmir people have been waiting for justice for a long time.”
Tensions have been rising among nuclear-armed neighbours in last month’s attacks at a tourist resort in Pahargam, Kashmir, managed by India.
India denounced Pakistan, saying the attack had “cross-border links.” Islamabad denied this and instead provided a neutral probe with third-party surveillance.
Both countries have taken diplomatic measures with each other, including canceling visas for each other’s citizens and reminding them of diplomatic staff.
India has also suspended participation in the Indus Waters Treaty, a 1960 water use and distribution agreement with Pakistan.
rhm/