UNITED NATIONS: Underscoring the urgency of resolving the decades-old Kashmir dispute, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Wednesday outlined a new four-point peace initiative with India aimed at addressing the causes of tensions between the two countries, and urged New Delhi to desist from creating instability in Pakistan.
"Wisdom dictates that our immediate neighbour refrains from fomenting instability in Pakistan," he said in a wide-ranging address to the UN General Assembly.
"The two countries", he added, "should address and resolve the causes of tension and take all possible measures to avert further escalation."
Apart from the Kashmir dispute and tensions between Pakistan and India, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif covered a range of subjects, including Afghanistan, terrorism, Palestine, Security Council reform, climate change, UN peacekeeping, post-2015 sustainable development agenda and South-South cooperation.
His 20-minute address, noted for its depth and sweep, was made before a galaxy of world leaders attending the 70th anniversary session of the 193-member Assembly.
"Muslims are suffering across the world: Palestinians and Kashmiris oppressed by foreign occupation; persecuted minorities; and the discrimination against Muslim refugees fleeing persecution or war," he said.
"The international community must redress these injustices against the Muslim people."
The Prime Minister told the high-level delegates that he was using the opportunity to propose a new peace initiative with India, starting with measures that were the simplest to implement, proposing that:
1. Pakistan and India formalize and respect the 2003 understanding for a complete ceasefire on the Line of Control in Kashmir to be monitored by an expanded UNMOGIP;
2. Pakistan and India reaffirm that they will not resort to the use or the threat of use of force under any circumstances, a central element of the UN Charter;
3. Steps be taken to demilitarize Kashmir; and,
4. Agree to an unconditional mutual withdrawal from Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battleground.
Elaborating on the Kashmir dispute, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for consultations with Kashmiris, who are an integral part of the dispute, to evolving a peaceful solution.
Since 1947, he pointed out that the Kashmir dispute has remained unresolved, UN Security Council resolutions have remained unimplemented, and three generations of Kashmiris have only seen broken promises and brutal oppression, with over 100,000 losing their lives in their struggle for self-determination.
"This is the most persistent failure of the United Nations," Prime Minister Sharif declared.
Nawaz Sharif said on his assumption of office as in June 2013, he reached to the Indian leadership in an effort to normalize relations with India, emphasizing that the common enemy of the two countries was poverty and underdevelopment. "Cooperation, not confrontation, should define our relationship," he said.
"Yet today ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary are intensifying, causing civilian deaths including women and children," the Prime Minister said, adding that the causes of tensions between India and Pakistan must be resolved.
"An easing of threat perceptions through such peace efforts will make it possible for Pakistan and India to agree on a broad range of measures to address the peril posed by offensive and advanced weapons systems," he said, underscoring that Pakistan neither wanted to, nor was it engaged in, an arms race in South Asia.
"We cannot, however, remain oblivious to the evolving security dynamics and arms buildup in our region, which obliges us to take essential steps to maintain our security," the prime minister said.
"As a responsible nuclear weapon state,", he added, "Pakistan will continue to support the objectives of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. We have maintained the highest standards of nuclear security and have established an effective regime to ensure the safety and security of our nuclear facilities and stocks.
"South Asia needs strategic stability and this requires serious dialogue to achieve nuclear restraint, conventional balance and conflict resolution."
On Afghanistan, he said Pakistan would persist in the endeavour to help resume the the dialogue with Afghan Government and the Taliban which was unfortunately stalled by certain developments leading to intensification of militant attacks that he condemned.
He said Pakistan stood for promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan.
"We are encouraged that the international community, including the major powers, desire continuation of the peace
process in Afghanistan."
"We can do so only if we receive the required cooperation from the Afghan government," the Prime Minister said.
"Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan are in neither country's interests."
Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif said, greatly appreciates China's proactive role in promoting peace and prosperity in Afghanistan and the region.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), announced during President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan earlier this year, will spur regional economic integration and bring prosperity to the entire region and beyond, he said. "This is an inspiring model of South-South cooperation that should be emulated."
The Prime Minister also welcomed Russia's greater focus on Asian cooperation, saying the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which Pakistan will be joining this year as a full member, holds great promise for promoting regional connectivity.
On terrorism, the Pakistani leader said the global threat of of this menace cannot be defeated unless its underlying causes are addressed, pointing out that poverty and ignorance are part of the problem. "Extremist ideologies must be opposed," he said.
Pakistan, as the primary victim of terrorism, has lost thousands of lives, including civilians. "The blood that has been shed - including that of our innocent children - has reinforced our resolve to eliminate this scourge from our society," he said. "We will fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, irrespective of who their sponsors are."
Operation Zarb-e-Azb involving "over 180,000 of our security forces", the Prime Minister said, had made substantial progress in eliminating terrorists.
This operation was complemented by an all-inclusive National Action Plan that encompassed police and security actions, political and legal measures and social and economic policy packages, aimed at countering violent extremism, he added.
But the narrative of the terrorists, he said, also had to be countered through the just resolution of the several instances of oppression and injustice against Muslims in various parts of the world. "Unfortunately, some seek to use the global campaign against terrorism to suppress the legitimate right of occupied peoples to self-determination."
The Middle East, which is wracked by violence, ethnic and sectarian conflicts, and the rise of Daesh, several countries of the region are today the vortex of conflict and instability, he said, noting that more were being sucked into this quagmire.
On the intensifying tragedy of Palestine, the Prime Minister said the accepted avenue for peace between Palestine and Israel - a two-state solution - appeared further away today than ever before, due to the intransigent stance of the occupying power.
"Yet as I speak the proud Palestinian flag is being raised just outside this hall," he said referring to the raising of Palestinian flag at UN Headquarters following last month's approval by the General Assembly. "We hope this is just the first step. We look forward to welcoming Palestine as a full member of the United Nations."
On the Security Council reform, he said Pakistan, which opposes an addition in the Council's permanent seats, looked forward to a more democratic, representative, accountable and transparent body.
"A Council that reflects the interests of all member states, in accordance with the principle of sovereign equality. Not a Council, which is an expanded club of the powerful and privileged."
Pakistan, he said, is proud of its historic and current role as a major troop contributor to UN peacekeeping.
"We regard it as our obligation to uphold international peace and security."
The Prime Minister welcomed the comprehensive nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the major world powers. "This shows what diplomatic engagement and multilateralism can achieve. It augurs well for the peace and security of our region and beyond."
About the historic adoption of 17 Sustainable Development Goals, he said, "The real challenge remains - to mobilize the collective political will and resources to ensure the comprehensive implementation of the agenda we have solemnly endorsed. Pakistan had already initiated action on national goals to promote the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
"We are also creating a robust mechanism for the monitoring and implementation of these goals and targets."
About the threat posed by Climate Change, the Prime Minister said, "Partisan interests must not stand in the way of an ambitious and collective commitment to halt and reverse the damage done to our planet."
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