Waqas ur Rehman
Pakistan has always been a significant member of the United Nations (UN). It has been represented by some of its outstanding diplomats at the UN. The Pakistani diplomats also have served as heads of the UN constituent organizations. It’s contributions to the evolution and development of the UN and its organs are extensive. These include creation of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO), and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Unfortunately, over the past two decades, Pakistan’s prominent role has become diminished for multiple reasons: inefficient economic performance; incumbency of leaders vulnerable to pressure and manipulation by external powers; the US military and political support of India and simultaneous penalties against Pakistan; and the rise of extremism and terrorism in Pakistan.
The Pakistan’s representatives have been doing a marvelous job in protecting the country’s core interests at the UN. Recently, Pakistan’s new Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi participated in the “high level segment” of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) session from September 23-30. The Foreign Minister’s policy statement was a well crafted exposition of Pakistan’s current position on the Kashmir dispute and the tense relationship with India. It reaffirmed Pakistan’s willingness to promote a political settlement in Afghanistan; conveyed its concern about Islamophobia and attacks against Islam; expressed its desire to address global challenges such as climate change; and renewed its commitment to effective reform of the UN. The speech was the clearest and strongest exposition heard in years of the Indian oppression in the Occupied Kashmir and its aggressive posture towards Pakistan. The Foreign Minister endorsed the recent UN Report cataloguing the massive Human Rights’ violations in the Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), and urged India to stop the Kashmiri genocide on immediate basis. Pakistan reiterated its readiness for a dialogue with India. As far as Afghanistan is concerned, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister recalled Imran Khan’s consistent advocacy of a political settlement and affirmed Pakistan’s readiness to help in commencing talks to promote a settlement between the principal parties: the US, the Afghan Taliban and the Afghan government.
The government of Pakistan has been striving to improve the socio-economic conditions of its society through promulgating the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Nevertheless, Pakistan has the potential and capacity to emerge as an ideal state for other progressive and developing nations. It has the capability to contribute in regional economic diplomacy, consistent with the government’s national agenda and reflects the primacy of human and social development. Pakistan can lead a group of likeminded developing countries to propose ways and means to enhance the UN’s role and effectiveness in addressing threats to peace and security, global challenges such as poverty and climate change, and ensure the interests of developing and underdeveloped states. Unfortunately, the UN and the entire World Order established after the Second World War are under concerted attack from the very powerful states. Great power rivalries have revived. Unilateral intervention by more powerful states against weaker neighbors is again emerging as the norm. The UN Security Council (UNSC) has been unable to stop the series of bloody wars and interventions in Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan. A new arms race is underway in nuclear weapons, missile systems, outer space, cyber space and artificial intelligence among the major powers. The global trade regime is being torn up, and the US-led financial system is volatile and vulnerable. So far, no coalition of responsible nations and leaders has emerged to halt this pervasive spiral towards global disorder.
There are several initiatives which Pakistan can take at the UN to advance its national interests. It is essential to actively project the terrible situation in the Occupied J&K and press for an equitable resolution of this dispute. Verbal proposals are insufficient. The call for the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights’ violations in Kashmir could be made formally in the Human Rights Council (HRC) and the UNGA. The Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) should consider submitting formal proposals in the UNSC and the HRC to oblige India to end its violations in the Occupied Valley and resume a meaningful dialogue. Moreover, Pakistan should vigorously project the real danger of India’s massive arms acquisitions and hostile military posture and threats against Pakistan. It could escalate the regional security dynamics to the nuclear level. There is a dire need to voice the Pakistan’s concerns over the supply of advanced weapons’ systems to India by the US, Russia, Israel, France and others. In a nutshell, Pakistan has to follow a policy of ‘active diplomacy’ to pursue its national interests both at the regional and the global level.
