UNITED NATIONS (tip): Pakistan once again resorted to its old tactics of raking up Kashmir in the United Nations when its President Asif Ali Zardari sought a solution to the issue under UN resolution. He said Kashmir remains a symbol of failure of the UN system and Pakistan’s principled position on territorial disputes remains a bedrock of its foreign policy.
“Kashmir remains a symbol of failures, rather than strengths of the UN system,” Zardari said in his 20-minute speech at the 67th session of the UN General Assembly here.
“We feel that resolution of these issues can only be arrived in an environment of cooperation,” he said.
“We will continue to support the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to peacefully choose their destiny in accordance with the UN Security Council’s long-standing resolutions on this matter,” the Pakistani president said.
Later, as Zardari exited the General Assembly hall, he was asked by to comment on his remarks that Kashmir is a “symbol of failure” of the UN system. Zardari, however, did not clarify or elaborate further.
Pakistan’s foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar also did not elaborate on the president’s remarks on Kashmir. “It is in the speech, please read that. He said what he said. It is elaborated enough,” she said.
Pakistan has raked up the issue of Kashmir at the UN forum time and again but India has insisted that it is its internal matter.