United Nations: In the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Pakistan demanded Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine, stressing the need to resume dialogue between the two countries for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Abstained from voting.
Sponsored by 75 countries, 141 members voted in favor of the resolution, exceeding the two-thirds required to pass it. Seven members Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua, Russia and Syria voted against the resolution. 32 members including Pakistan, China, India, Iran and South Africa did not participate.
Explaining his vote, Pakistan’s UN ambassador Munir Akram said he abstained from the resolution, which was drafted by Ukraine, despite efforts by co-sponsors to moderate its tone. Despite this, because some clauses were still inconsistent with Islamabad’s principled position.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called his Pakistani counterpart, Dr. Arif Alvi, to seek Pakistan’s support.
He said that Pakistan fully supports the principle of sovereignty, sovereign equality and respect for the territorial integrity of states and the demand not to acquire territory through threat or use of force. The Pakistani ambassador said that the states cannot be broken by the use of force.
But, Ambassador Akram said, he regretted that these principles were not universally applied and respected, for example in the situation of foreign occupation and the ongoing attempts at illegal and forced annexation of Jammu and Kashmir.
His reference to the situation in India’s illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) drew a response from an Indian representative, but was effectively countered by a Pakistani diplomat.
In his remarks, Ambassador Akram said that Pakistan also endorses the resolutions and calls on member states and international organizations to redouble their support for diplomatic efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine. .
“As long as hostilities continue, there is an ever-present danger of the war escalating militarily and geographically. Thus there is an immediate threat to international peace and security.
The Pakistani envoy said, “noting that while agreeing and endorsing the principles and general provisions contained in the draft resolution, some provisions were inconsistent with Pakistan’s principled position”.
“As a country that has seen and suffered the consequences of protracted conflicts in our neighbourhood, we call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and negotiations to achieve a just and lasting solution through direct or indirect negotiations, mediation or otherwise. give the highest priority to the restoration of peaceful means.”
“In this regard, we see an important role for the United Nations and the Secretary-General, under the provisions of Chapters VI and VIII of the United Nations Charter (Pacific Settlement of Disputes), aimed at de-escalation, renewed negotiations. and continued dialogue for a peaceful diplomatic solution,” he added.
“Pakistan hopes that in a constructive approach, the parties will soon accept mutual and early cessation of hostilities,” Ambassador Akram said. also hope to restore. the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and past treaties, and bearing in mind the legitimate security interests of all States”.
In accordance with the terms of paragraph 11 of the resolution, the UNGA reiterated its demand that Russia immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine and call for an end to hostilities.
The Assembly, through the resolution, urged member states to cooperate in a spirit of solidarity to address the global impact of war on food security, energy, finance, environment and nuclear security and safety.
Stressing that sustainable peace arrangements must take these factors into account, the Assembly also called on all nations to support the Secretary-General’s efforts to address these impacts.
An emergency session of the assembly convened on Wednesday to begin debate on the resolution, with the assembly’s president, Kasaba Kurosi, saying that for a full year, the 193-member assembly, the secretary-general, and the international community have been persistent and vocal. Is. Our call for an end to this war and for adherence to the UN Charter and international law.
The resolution also emphasized the need to ensure accountability through independent national or international investigations and prosecutions for the most serious crimes under international law committed in Ukraine to ensure justice for all victims and future reparations. Prevention of crime can be ensured.
On Thursday, the assembly also rejected two amendments proposed by Russia’s ally Belarus, and Pakistan also abstained from these motions.
The first proposal would have altered several of the resolution’s provisions, and the second would have had the assembly’s call on member states to, among other things, refrain from sending weapons to the zone of conflict.
