ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top diplomat at the United Nations highlighted foreign occupation as one of the root causes of international conflicts on Wednesday, noting that its consequences were particularly visible in places like Palestine and Indian-administered Kashmir, while urging the world body to end Israel’s war in Gaza.
Ambassador Munir Akram raised this concern during a high-level debate at the UN Security Council on conflict prevention and peacebuilding convened by Sierra Leone, where participants focused on global, regional and national dimensions of various disputes around the world.
The Pakistani diplomat attributed the proliferation of conflicts in different regions to “flawed” international strategies that he maintained left much to be desired.
“The consequences of foreign occupation are nowhere as clear as in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine,” an official statement released after the debate quoted him as saying. “It is therefore the responsibility of this Council to end Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.”
Akram noted the root causes of global conflicts ranged from the legacies of colonialism, internal struggles and external competition for scarce resources, including food and water, to interventions aimed at suppressing people’s struggles to reclaim their political and economic rights.
He maintained that national strategies for conflict prevention could only succeed if they were accompanied by regional and international measures to address key causes of conflicts, such as poverty, unemployment, injustice, exploitation of natural resources and external interventions.
He also emphasized the challenge of extremist violence, highlighting Pakistan’s strategy of working with local communities to address the issue.
“In Pakistan’s experience, fighting terrorism in our border regions was successful due to the support, assistance and participation of the local communities,” he said.
Akram expressed hope the debate in the Council would inspire new thinking to develop effective approaches for preventing conflicts, resolving disputes and building peace in countries dealing with conflicts.
Pakistan’s UN envoy links global conflicts to foreign occupation, urges end to Gaza war
https://arab.news/5h9gz
Pakistan’s UN envoy links global conflicts to foreign occupation, urges end to Gaza war
- Ambassador Munir Akram addresses UN debate focusing on conflict prevention and peacebuilding
- He says Pakistan fought ‘terrorism in border regions’ with the help and participation of local communities
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.
