ALI HUSSAIN

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry Monday said Pakistan is preparing dossiers to be submitted to the UN General Assembly pertaining to India’s intervention and supporting terror activities in Pakistan.

Talking to reporters on the eve of 71st anniversary of the United Nations here at Quaid-e-Azam University, he said Pakistan has solid evidence of Indian involvement in terror activities as well as its interference in the country’s internal affairs which would be submitted to the UN chief and other world forums.

Referring to the UN Day celebration, he said that October 24 is very important with regard to the UN foundation and its obligation towards resolution of world disputes especially the issue of Kashmir.

He said that the issue of Kashmir is one of the oldest disputes pending in the United Nations, which should be resolved in light of the Security Council resolutions, adding that the international community should play its due role in resolution of Kashmir dispute for lasting peace in the region by ascertaining wishes of the people of Kashmir.

“It is very important that the entire world including India should abide by UN Security Council resolutions…We think United Nations has to play its role with regard to one of the oldest issues on its agenda which is the Kashmir dispute,” he asserted, adding Pakistan is hopeful that the UN will act on its resolutions according to the aspirations of the Kashmir people.

To a question regarding the ceasefire violations on Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary, he said that the Indian forces unprovoked firing on the LoC and the Working Boundary is unfortunate, which should be stopped immediately.

He also hoped that United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) will submit its report over ceasefire violations by India on LoC and the Working Boundary to the members of the UN Security Council.

He said that Pakistan always abide by the 2003 ceasefire agreement with India, but the Indian forces always resorted to unprovoked firing, even on civilian population, adding Pakistan is compelled to respond and has never initiated the firing.

To a question about the reported visit of a Taliban delegation to Pakistan, the foreign secretary declined either to confirm or share some the detail of the discussions, however, he added that Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan and playing its due role in furthering the reconciliation process.

He said the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) was formed to promote reconciliation in Afghanistan and all the countries are contributing in establishing peace, harmony, and reconciliation in the war torn Afghanistan. He said that it was agreed on the GCG platform that all the member countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, United States and China will reach out to the Taliban and take forward the peace process, adding all the member countries are trying to contact the Taliban.

To yet another question whether Foreign Office was not being taken into confidence on the Taliban’s recent visit, Chaudhry declined to share the detail, saying the matter was at the stage of “work in progress” and cannot be shared at public. He said that the matters were taking forward by all the concerned institutions towards the reconciliation process and Pakistan is committed to the Afghan peace process.

Earlier, a ceremony titled Book Launch: Urdu translations of “Basic Facts about the United Nations” were held. Besides by Foreign Secretary, the ceremony was addressed by Ambassador of Switzerland Marc P. George, Vice Chancellor QAU Javed Ashraf and Director United Nations Information Centre Vittorio Cammarota.

“Basic Facts about the UN” has been translated into Urdu for the first time and was launched on the eve of the UN Day. Published since 1947, the book serves as a trusted guide to the UN and its system of related agencies.