Bilawal briefs President UNGA on India’s illegal delimitation exercise in Kashmir

NEW YORK: The Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held a meeting with the President of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA) and Foreign Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid in New York.

The foreign minister commended the PGA on his excellent stewardship of the General Assembly during his “Presidency of Hope” and his efforts to mobilize the Assembly in building concrete response to the multiple old and new challenges confronting the world today.

The foreign minister underscored that as the Chair of the Group of 77 (G-77), Pakistan has worked diligently to advance the development agenda in the General Assembly and other relevant UN forums.

Bilawal Bhutto He underscored that Pakistan and the G-77 hoped to achieve tangible outcomes for ensuring COVID vaccine equity, preventing global food crisis, mobilizing financing for recovery from the pandemic, securing fulfillment of climate finance commitments, and accelerating investment in sustainable infrastructure in developing countries.

Emphasizing the importance of the UN Security Council reform process, he stressed that any decision on the issue needs to be reached with consensus of UN member states.

The foreign minister appreciated the recognition of March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia by the UN General Assembly, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to work closely with the PGA in evolving an agreed plan of action to combat Islamophobia.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari underlined that durable peace between Pakistan and India will only be possible if the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is resolved on the basis of the UN Charter, relevant Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

Bilawal called for the reversal of the illegal and unilateral steps taken by India in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) since August 5, 2019.

The foreign minister also briefed the PGA on the illegal ‘delimitation’ exercise in IIOJK aimed at altering the demographic composition of the occupied territory in complete violation of international law including the 4th Geneva Convention and the UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir dispute.