NEW YORK: France on Tuesday expressed support for peace and stability in South Asia and called for restraint and a bilateral dialogue between nuclear-armed Pakistan and India to address all outstanding disputes.
France’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont, met with the high-level parliamentary delegation of Pakistan, led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in New York.
The Pakistani delegation is in New York to present Pakistan’s stance on the recent military escalation with India and to challenge New Delhi’s narrative at the global level.
The meeting was part of Pakistan’s sustained diplomatic outreach to brief key UN stakeholders on the alarming regional situation following recent “Indian provocations and blatant aggression”.
The Pakistani delegation briefed the French Ambassador regarding the alarming security developments in South Asia following India’s recent military aggression and unilateral actions.
Bilawal Bhutto apprised the French Ambassador of the grave consequences arising from India’s baseless attribution of the Pahalgam attack to Pakistan without any credible investigation or evidence.
He said India’s persistent belligerence, unilateral military strikes against civilians in Pakistan and arbitrary suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty are condemnable actions that violate international law and threaten the fragile strategic balance in the region.
Bilawal Bhutto highlighted Pakistan’s responsible and restrained conduct in the face of Indian provocation. He said Pakistan’s response was guided by the principles of international law and the UN Charter.
He warned against India’s attempt to impose a so-called “new normal” of arbitrary strikes, that may have serious implications in a nuclearized region like South Asia.
Pakistan committed to eliminating terrorism
Bilawal Bhutto highlighted that Pakistan is the biggest victim of terrorism in the world, and remains committed to eliminating the menace including the one funded and supported by India.
Emphasising that Pakistan’s role and sacrifices to combat terrorism are well recognized, he called for depoliticizing the issue of terrorism.
Bilawal Bhutto underscored the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions for durable peace and stability in South Asia.
He urged France to play a role in ensuring a sustained ceasefire, revival of the Indus Waters Treaty, and initiation of a comprehensive dialogue between Pakistan and India.
The French Ambassador expressed his country’s support for regional peace and stability, and the need for bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan.
He reiterated the importance of restraint, dialogue, and adherence to international obligations.
Pakistan urges UNSC to play role in disputes’ resolution
Earlier today, the Pakistani delegation held a meeting with the President of the UN Security Council for the month of June, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Guyana.
During the meeting, the Pakistani delegation urged the UN Security Council to play a proactive role in promoting de-escalation, ensuring respect for international law and treaties and facilitating peaceful resolution of the disputes, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with the UN Security Council resolutions.
Bilawal Bhutto conveyed Pakistan’s deep concern over India’s baseless allegations following the Pahalgam attack, which he said were made without any credible investigation or substantiated evidence.
The President of the Security Council, Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett reaffirmed the Security Council’s commitment to upholding international peace and security in line with its mandate.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday, during a meeting with Pakistan’s Special Assistant to Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, reaffirmed Moscow’s desire to deepen relations with Pakistan under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) framework, with a particular focus on counter-terrorism cooperation.
Russia stresses Pakistan-India talks
The Russian Foreign Minister emphasised his country’s support for the normalisation of ties between India and Pakistan, noting its positive impact on regional stability.
“The Russian minister stressed the importance of a direct dialogue and greater mutual trust between New Delhi and Islamabad,” the Russian Foreign Ministry stated in a press release.
The meeting came as the senior aide of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, began a visit to Russia weeks after India and Pakistan clashed, following heightened tensions that ended with a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10.
Pakistan has since called for a “composite dialogue” with India to discuss all outstanding issues, though New Delhi has rejected direct talks after Washington said the two countries had agreed to meet at a neutral venue to defuse tensions.
Tariq Fatemi highlighted the serious implications of India’s threat to disrupt the flow of waters by holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance.
On Pakistan-India relations, Foreign Minister Lavrov stressed Russia’s support for the promotion of normal relations between the two countries and its positive effect on the region.
