ISLAMABAD: Pakistani permanent representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram, said this week Islamabad hoped that the administration of United States president-elect Joe Biden would adopt a “balanced approach” toward both India and Pakistan.
While Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had courted the administration of President Donald Trump in an attempt to rejig ties between Washington and Islamabad, the US ultimately moved even closer to Pakistani arch-rival New Delhi and signed a series of security agreements.
“We hope that, as in the past, the US would adopt a balanced approach toward both India and Pakistan, an approach that is equitable, that takes into account the national interests of not only India, but also Pakistan,” Akram told Newsweek. “If that is the case, if there is a balanced policy from Washington toward the continent, I think Washington would find Pakistan a willing partner.”
“Obviously, Pakistan would like to have better relations with the United States and we would be looking to find the areas of convergence where we can work together with the U.S,” the envoy added.
Tensions have been running particularly high between nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and Indian since last year, when New Delhi stripped the special status of the disputed Kashmir region, unleashing anger in Islamabad. Pakistan and India both claim Kashmir in full and rule it in part.
On Saturday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Maj. Gen. Babar Iftikhar, the director general of the military media wing, said Islamabad had “irrefutable evidence” of India’s sponsorship of militancy on Pakistani soil and would present it to the United Nations (UN) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Islamabad has long claimed that India sponsors militant groups in Pakistan — which India denies — but Saturday’s announcement at a joint press conference of the country’s top diplomatic and military officials provided specific accusations.
Pakistan and the United States have for long had a complicated relationship. Officially allies in fighting terrorism, their relationship has been bound on the one hand by Washington’s dependence on Pakistan to supply its troops in Afghanistan but on the other hand, over the years, ties have also been plagued by accusations that Afghan Taliban militants and the Haqqani network that target American troops in Afghanistan are allowed to shelter on Pakistani soil. Islamabad denies this.
In recent months, however, Pakistan has played a productive behind-the-scenes role to bring the Afghan Taliban to the negotiation table and eventually participate in the intra-Afghan dialogue with the Kabul government, earning Pakistan acknowledgment for its positive role in helping move the peace process forward.
Islamabad hopes Biden will adopt ‘balanced approach’ toward India and Pakistan — UN envoy
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Islamabad hopes Biden will adopt ‘balanced approach’ toward India and Pakistan — UN envoy
- Pakistani permanent representative to UN says Washington will find Pakistan a ‘willing partner’ if it takes the national interests of both Delhi and Islamabad into account
- Says Islamabad looking to find ‘areas of convergence’ to work together with the new government of Joe Biden
Pakistan joins 22 Muslim states, OIC to condemn Israeli FM’s visit to Somaliland
- Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited breakaway African region of Somaliland on January 6
- Muslim states urge Israel to withdraw Somaliland recognition, respect Somalia’s sovereignty
ISLAMABAD: A joint statement by Pakistan, 22 other Muslim states and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Thursday condemned Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s recent visit to Somaliland as a violation of the African nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Saar’s visit to Somaliland capital Hargeisa on Jan. 6 followed Israel’s move last month to recognize Somaliland, a breakaway region from Somalia, as an independent country. The move drew a sharp reaction from Muslim states, including Pakistan, who said it was in contravention of the UN Charter and international norms.
Several international news outlets months earlier reported that Israel had contacted Somaliland over the potential resettlement of Palestinians forcibly removed from Gaza. Muslim countries fear Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region could be part of its plan to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza to the region.
“The said visit constitutes a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and undermines established international norms and the United Nations Charter,” the joint statement shared by Pakistan’s foreign office, read.
The joint statement was issued on behalf of 23 Muslim states, including Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait, Türkiye, Oman and others.
It reaffirmed support for Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, pointing out that respect for international law and non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states was necessary for regional stability.
“Encouraging secessionist agendas are unacceptable and risk exacerbating tensions in an already fragile region,” the statement said.
The joint statement urged Israel to revoke its recognition of the breakaway region.
“Israel should fully respect Somalia’s sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity and honor its obligations in compliance with international law, and demand immediate revocation of the recognition issued by Israel,” the statement read.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia unilaterally in 1991 as a civil war raged in the country. Somaliland has its own constitution, parliament and currency, a move that has infuriated Somalia over the years as it insists the region is part of its territory.
