UNITED NATIONS: Enterprises about Kashmir and the need to balance its relations with major powers — forced Pakistan not to share in a UN vote on Ukraine before this week.
The UN General Assembly on Wednesday espoused a resolution calling on countries not to honor the four regions of Ukraine that Russia has claimed through blackballs held under its occupation.
In the vote, 143 countries out of the 193- member body suggested in favour of the resolution, while only five suggested against it. Pakistan was among the 35 countries — including India — that abstained.
Latterly, in a note of explanation submitted to the General Assembly, Pakistan clarified why it had abstained.
Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram explained that Pakistan completely supports the resolution’s call for respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries — a principle which also applies to Ukraine, as to other member countries.
“States can not be torn piecemeal by the use of force. These principles must be constantly and widely admired,” Mr Akram said.
This is an argument that Pakistan has frequently used at colorful UN fora while explaining why it doesn’t honor the choices under Indian occupation forces in held Jammu and Kashmir.
“In the case of the blackballs mentioned in the draft resolution, we admit Ukraine’s complex history and the vittles of the Minsk Agreement,” Ambassador Akram said.
He explained that under transnational law, the right of tone- determination applies to peoples who are under foreign or social domination, and to “those who haven’t yet exercised the right to tone- determination, as in the case of Jammu & Kashmir.”
Pakistan’s abstention also echoed in the daily briefing by the FO prophet in Islamabad on Friday, when a intelligencer asked for an explanation of the decision.
The prophet said that the abstention was “a well- considered, principled, and objective position on this issue” and it has “enabled us space to engage with both sides.”
He prompted the transnational community also to “understand and admire Pakistan’s independent position, which is grounded on our own considerations and environment.”
The prophet refocused out that Pakistan was “unequivocal in pronouncing our position on the illegality and unacceptability of the blackballs organised in Ukraine.” He also underscored the reference to held Kashmir in Pakistan’s response, which refocused that India’s illegal conduct in the vale were in complete violation of transnational law, adding that the Indian conduct “must also admit analogous concern and commination.”
