Use of veto hindered resolution of Kashmir dispute: Maleeha

NEW YORK, March 11: Pakistan’s Permanent representative in the United Nations Dr. Maleeha Lodhi has said that the use of veto in the United Nations Security Council prevented resolution of the Kashmir dispute and hindered implementation of UN resolutions on the issue.
Dr Maleeha Lodhi reiterated the country’s opposition to adding new permanent members to the Council with or without a veto.
She said that any privileged role in decision-making would contradict the shared goal of making the Security Council more democratic, representative and accountable. “Pakistan supports expansion of the Security Council only in the non-permanent category,” she added.
Lodhi said that Pakistan considers veto as an important issue that needed to be tackled as part of a comprehensive reform of the Security Council. “This cannot be ignored or deferred. Pakistan does not support any proposal that aims to defer consideration of this key issue or leave open the possibility of its extension to other members through a review process,” she added. The envoy warned the UN that if the values of the 21st century like democracy, equal opportunity and non-discrimination were ignored in reforming the council, there would be grave risk of making the United Nations a “Divided Nations”.
Pakistan believed that ideally the veto should be abolished, she said. “But being cognisant that such proposals could themselves be vetoed, we support pragmatic approaches and measures that could restrict or limit the use of veto,” she added.-Sabah