Presenting credentials, new Pakistani envoy urges UN chief to help in promoting peace in South Asia

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan's new Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr Maleeha Lodhi, urged UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to play a role in promoting peace and stability in South Asia, after presenting her credentials to the world body chief on Tuesday.

In a meeting that followed the brief ceremony, the Pakistan envoy told the secretary-general that peace needed a fast, not a slow track, according to official sources.

She also informed him that Pakistan did not want to be distracted from its efforts on its Western border and its law enforcement campaign to combat militancy by the fraught situation on the Line of Control in Kashmir and the working boundary with India, the sources said.

Ambassador Lodhi underscored the need for the role and mandate of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to be strengthened and expanded. It was necessary to do this to prevent ceasefire violations at the LoC and the working boundary, she said.

The Secretary-General said he wanted to see a resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan, while also appreciating Pakistan's law enforcement efforts aimed at countering militancy, according to informed sources.

He said the UN valued Pakistan's contribution to UN peacekeeping operations.

The secretary-general also told the Pakistani envoy that 2015 will be an important year for the United Nations. The year, he pointed out, was going to be significant for the major Summits that will take place on the post-2015 development agenda and climate change. Decisions and deliberations on these and other issues will have an enduring impact on future generations, he added.

The Secretary-General recalled his three visits to Pakistan and his meetings with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and appreciated the prime minister's leadership and role on important issues.

Ambassador Lodhi assured the Secretary-General that Pakistan will continue to play a constructive role at the UN and extend its support to him on addressing the many challenges being faced in the security, economic and humanitarian fields, as well as on UN reforms.

Pakistan, she said, had a key role in peacekeeping, wanted to contribute to the success of the climate change summit, was actively participating on the post-2015 development agenda, and was in favour of effective and democratic UN reform.

The ambassador apprised the Secretary-General about Pakistan's national priorities, which were to establish internal stability by defeating terrorism, promote inclusive economic development, help to stabilize Afghanistan and normalize relations with India on the basis of equality and mutual respect, as well as resolution of outstanding disputes, including Kashmir.

She urged the Secretary-General to help counter the "deliberate misperceptions" being spread about Pakistan's role in combating terrorism, the sources said.

She also asked the Secretary-General to help in promoting peace and stability in South Asia by advocating the resumption of a broad based dialogue between Pakistan and India aimed at resolving the disputes between them.