NEW YORK: Pakistan’s Caretaker Foreign Minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani, said that Islamabad’s desire for peaceful relations with India has often been met with negativity. He was addressing the Asia Society conference in New York on Wednesday.
The Foreign Minister highlighted Pakistan’s positive efforts for peaceful and cooperative ties with New Delhi, such as the opening of the Kartarpur corridor, aimed at fostering goodwill with the Indian Sikh community. However, he lamented that these efforts have often been met with negativity.
Jilani also pointed out the worsening of relations between Pakistan and India due to India’s actions in India-occupied Jammu Kashmir and alleged human rights violations against Kashmiris. He cited the rise of religious extremism in India, particularly against Muslims, as a complicating factor.
In the context of Afghanistan, Jilani stressed Pakistan’s significant stake in achieving peace within Afghanistan and with its regional and international partners. He mentioned Pakistan’s hosting of nearly four million Afghan refugees for decades and its commitment to supporting their return for Afghanistan’s economic development. He also expressed concern about human rights issues in Afghanistan, particularly women’s rights and education.
Regarding terrorism, Jilani condemned all forms of it, including state-sponsored violence against religious minorities. He emphasized the need for global cooperation to combat terrorism and urged against politicizing the issue based on countries, communities, regions, or religions.
Pakistan’s Security Concerns Amid Cross-Border Attacks
On the subject of cross-border violence from Afghanistan, Jilani highlighted the threats posed by banned terrorist groups like Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) using Afghan soil to launch attacks against Pakistan. He called for international recognition of these terrorist outfits as threats to the region and the world.
Turning to the Ukraine conflict, Jilani reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful conflict resolution, respect for UN principles, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. He pledged Pakistan’s support for efforts to end the war and alleviate the suffering of the Ukrainian people.
Additionally, he emphasized the importance of addressing the global impacts of the Ukraine-Russia crisis on food and energy security and expressed hope for the early resumption of the Black Sea grain initiative.
