NEW YORK: Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, in his address at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Friday, emphasized the urgent need to counter all forms of terrorism, including addressing the rising threat posed by “Hindutva-inspired extremists.”
PM Kakar’s speech at UNGA covered various global issues, including the challenges posed by Hindutva extremism, climate change, and international tensions. PM Kakar called for a comprehensive approach to counterterrorism, urging the global community to combat all terrorists without discrimination. He expressed concern about the growing threat from far-right and fascist groups, specifically mentioning Hindutva-inspired extremists who have been accused of threatening genocide against India’s Muslim and Christian populations.
Furthermore, PM Kakar highlighted the root causes of terrorism, which he identified as poverty, injustice, foreign occupation, and the need to distinguish genuine freedom struggles from acts of terrorism. He proposed the establishment of a committee within the UN General Assembly to oversee the balanced implementation of all four pillars of the global counter-terrorism strategy.
Prime Minister Kakar has called upon global powers to persuade India to accept Pakistan’s proposal for mutually restraining their strategic and conventional weapons. He emphasized that Pakistan seeks peaceful relations with all its neighboring countries, including India, as it firmly believes that development hinges on peace. He said that Pakistan is located in one of the least economically integrated regions globally, making peaceful and productive relations with neighbors essential.
The premier underscored that United Nations resolutions regarding the Kashmir issue are pivotal in achieving peace between the two nuclear-armed nations. He pointed out that the issue of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) is one of the longest-standing items on the UN Security Council’s agenda. He said that unfortunately, India has consistently evaded implementing these global forum resolutions related to the dispute.
He further highlighted that these resolutions advocate for the ultimate resolution of the Indian occupied territory through a UN-supervised plebiscite, allowing its people to determine their fate. PM Kakar also criticized India’s deployment of 900,000 troops in IIOJK following the revocation of Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019. This deployment was seen as an attempt to impose a final solution for the Kashmir issue.
Continuing his critique of New Delhi, he lamented the prolonged lockdowns, curfews in the disputed valley, the confinement of Kashmiri leaders, and extrajudicial killings of innocent Kashmiris in fake encounters and search operations.
Calling upon the United Nations Security Council to ensure the implementation of its resolutions on Kashmir, PM Kakar stressed the need for reinforcing a UN military observer group for India and Pakistan. He also advocated for a collective global effort to persuade New Delhi to accept Pakistan’s proposal for mutual restraint on strategic and conventional weapons.
At the beginning of his address, PM Kakar acknowledged the current global tensions, referencing the Russia-Ukraine conflict and geopolitical rivalries. He underscored the importance of prioritizing geoeconomics over geopolitics during these challenging times.
Regarding climate change and sustainable development goals, PM Kakar called for the realization of commitments made during the yesterday climate summit. He urged the rechanneling of unused special drawing rights for development and the resolution of debt problems faced by 59 countries in debt distress.
PM Kakar also drew attention to Pakistan’s own challenges, including the “triple food finance fuel challenge,” which he attributed to the combined impact of COVID-19, conflict, and climate change. He stressed the need for international support in addressing these complex issues.
Prime Minister Kakar emphasized that achieving peace in Afghanistan is a strategic imperative for Pakistan. He expressed Pakistan’s alignment with the international community’s concerns, particularly regarding the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.
However, he underscored that Pakistan advocates for the continuation of humanitarian aid to the vulnerable Afghan population, with a particular focus on Afghan women and girls. Additionally, PM Kakar called for support in revitalizing the Afghan economy and advancing connectivity projects with Central Asia.
PM Kakar further highlighted that Pakistan’s foremost priority is to prevent and counter all forms of terrorism originating from and within Afghanistan. He strongly denounced cross-border attacks against Pakistan by groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Daesh, and other organizations operating from Afghan territory.
While acknowledging Afghan support and cooperation in countering these attacks, PM Kakar said that Pakistan is also taking necessary measures to end this externally incited terrorism.
🔴LIVE: His Excellency Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar Prime Minister General Debate of the 78th Session of the General Assembly https://t.co/MZnKuLBH2X
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 22, 2023
Pakistan’s PM Calls for Timely Execution of Flood Rehabilitation Projects
The prime minister expressed gratitude for the commitment of over $10.5 billion toward Pakistan’s comprehensive plan for recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction with resilience (4RF). He emphasized the importance of timely funding and execution of these projects, which collectively require $13 billion. He further assured that the government of Pakistan was committed to rapid economic recovery, stability of currency and forex reserves, expansion of domestic revenues, and mobilization of crucial domestic and external investment.
Earlier in an interview, PM Kakar warned that the “disgusting reality” behind Hindutva politics could lead the world into the “fires of war.” He linked Hindutva ideology with Canada’s allegations against India in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader, emphasizing that the rise of Hindutva extremism was a matter of deep concern for the international community.
PM Kakar vowed to continue highlighting this issue at various forums, emphasizing that Hindutva politics had regional and global implications. He called for a collective understanding of the danger posed by Hindutva extremism and urged the global community to take action to prevent it.
Additionally, PM Kakar stated that Pakistan had evidence supporting its claims of Indian involvement in terrorism, including the confession of high-ranking Indian military officer Kulbhushan Jadhav. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to addressing terrorism and working closely with neighboring countries to combat the rise in militancy and extremism.
