NEW YORK: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to apply sanctions against Israel, including weapons and trade embargo, for its genocidal actions against the Palestinians.
The Prime Minister was delivering a statement during the High-Level Open Debate of United Nations Security Council on “Leadership for Peace” on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Israel-Lebanon
While denouncing the recent bombings in Beirut by Israel, he said Israel must halt its genocidal acts in the Gaza Strip and stop any attempts, which provoke a wider war in the Middle East. In addition, Shehbaz Sharif also urged the UN Security Council to develop an impartial plan for a truce and peaceful solution for the conflict in Ukraine. PM Shehbaz Sharif said that proliferating wars in the Middle East, Europe, and elsewhere, along with increasing poverty, are threatening the foundations of world order.
Issue of Kashmir
Turning towards the issue of Kashmir, he said that the UNSC can no longer ignore the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, which poses a persistent threat to global peace and security. The Prime Minister called upon the UN Security Council to prevent the massive violations of the fundamental rights of the people of Kashmir as well as implement its own resolutions, calling for a plebiscite for self-determination in the valley of Kashmir.
Terrorist Threat from Afghanistan
About terrorism, Shehbaz Sharif urged the UN Security Council to effectively address the resurgence of the terrorist threat from Afghanistan particularly from Daesh (ISIL-K), and Fitna al-Khawarij (TTP). He also called for active support from the UNSC for African nations and the African Union in their efforts to combat terrorism and predatory foreign intervention.
Asia-Pacific Region and Arms Race
Highlighting the need of making UN peacekeeping more effective and robust, Shehbaz Sharif said the UN Security Council should initiate Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) to stop war between major powers and to ease rising tensions, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
He said the Council should declare zero tolerance for the unlawful use of force and revive international efforts to halt and reverse the new arms race in both nuclear and conventional arms. PM Shehbaz Sharif stated that the UN Security Council should build controls over new arms and technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), which are making war more likely and more lethal.
He concluded that in cooperation with other member nations, Pakistan shall pursue these objectives in the UN Security Council when it assumes its seat in the Council in upcoming year.
