Global peace possible through rule of law and upholding human rights: Masood Khan  

MIRPUR (AJK): AJK President Sardar Masood Khan Saturday said that today, the world was in a state of flux and dominated by number of emerging issues, strifes and non-traditional threats which were risk for global peace and security.

He made these remarks while speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day seminar on "Threats to Security in the 21st Century: A Global Way Forward", organized by the School of Integrated Social Sciences, University of Lahore here.

The President said that the world order must be based on upholding human rights and not dictated by realpolitik, xenophobia and warmongering. If the international rule of law did not become the norm, the world would, once again, plunge into a catastrophic global war, he added.

Sardar Masood said that numerous challenges had plagued the world that were creating disarrays like terrorism, insurgencies, asymmetric warfare and civil wars.

Issues like climate change, demographic changes, cyber conflict, energy deficits, water and food scarcity could also not be ignored, he pointed out.

Warfare, the president said, had transcended its traditional parameters and today the use of drones and 4th and 5th generation warfare had transformed the global concepts of war.     He said that Europe had become a victim of xenophobic  while hate speech and prejudice had become a norm all over the world.

"Unfortunately, the rule of law and human rights has taken a back seat as strategic, economic and political interests has taken precedence in the new world order", he said.

"Projects like the Belt and Road Initiative is aimed at promoting economic connectivity between Asia, Europe and Africa, yet it is criticised by many."

The president said the world should understand that CPEC was designed for connecting countries, building transnational communities for prosperity, and creating conditions for peaceful neighborhoods.

He said that Pakistan faced threats from India, the situation in Afghanistan, terrorism, subversion and proxy wars, adding these threats had to be addressed with resolve and dedication.

Masood Khan said that peace and stability in South Asia had always been threatened by Indian hostilities towards Pakistan and its constant interventions in the affairs of its neighbouring nations He said that Pakistan also faced other challenges like poverty, human development, rapid urbanization, social problems, political instability.

The president said that we must make conscious efforts in addressing these issues which are directly and indirectly threatening our national security.

He said Pakistan's economy was going through the radical transformation and we had yet to achieve our full potential, adding despite the challenges many opportunities were also awaiting for the nation.

He said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor had thrown up huge opportunities for Pakistan adding that CPEC was not a substitute but a catalyst that would drastically improve connectivity and promote constructive economic activity within the region.

He further said that our huge youth bulge was an asset and there was a need to equip them with modern education and necessary skills. "Similarly, we have a huge potential of maritime trade due to our access to the waters of the Indian Ocean giving us access to the Strait of Hormuz."

Speaking on the situation in Kashmir, the President said that Kashmir was a flashpoint and human rights issue that needed immediate redressal.

He said that the international community should show its responsibility to bring India to task over the gross human right violations taking place in Indian Occupied Kashmir.

The president said 700,000 Indian occupation forces under the guise of Lawless laws were killing Kashmiris openly and illegally adding women were dishonoured and the Joint Resistance Leadership was kept under constant surveillance.

He said it was our responsibility to raise the Kashmir issue at every international forum.

"Even after 70 years of coercive tactics, political manoeuvring, demonising the Kashmiris as terrorists and economic blandishments, India has been unable to integrate this region.

The Kashmiris till this day are struggling for their freedom and paying for it through their own blood", he said   Speaking about the development projects in Azad Kashmir, the President said that the state was focusing on good governance through ensuring the rule of law, accountability, meritocracy and transparency.

He said under the auspices of CPEC, 4 mega projects including 2 hydropower projects, a Special Economic Zone in Mirpur and the Mansehra-Mirpur Expressway would be built which were at different stages of planning and implementation.

Azad Kashmir, he said was one of the most beautiful places on earth and efforts were being made to make it a top destination for eco-tourism.

Sardar Masood said plans were underway to construct a 200-kilometre Tourism Corridor which would pass through all the scenic areas, adding this corridor would have all the modern facilities along with theme parks, sports parks for adventure tourism, log huts and motels.