Kashmir issue: UNSG's remarks strengthens Pakistan's stance: Awan

Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Tuesday said that the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres's, remarks about Kashmir had strengthened Pakistan's stance on the issue.

Addressing a news conference, she welcomed the statement and expressed hope that the United Nations would play its due role in resolving the issue in line with the UN Security Council's resolutions.

Awan urged the United Nations to play its due role in stopping massive human rights violations committed by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir. She said that the rights of minorities were not protected in India due to extremist policies adopted by the BJP-led regime.

The special assistant said that Antonio Guterres also urged the world to come forward in repatriating millions of Afghan refugees, who were being hosted by Pakistan for over four decades.

Earlier, Awan took to twitter to appreciate the UN secretary general's statement, saying the world body should pressurize India to stop atrocities in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The UN should force India to grant the legal democratic right of self-determination to the Kashmiris as enshrined in its resolutions. She said the UN secretary general's acknowledgment of restoration of peace in Pakistan, and its pro-active and responsible role in the war against terrorism was a positive message to the world community. It would help promote Pakistan's true image in the world, Awan said.

Moreover, the recognition of Pakistan's efforts to look after Afghan refugees for the last 40 years was also a manifestation of Islamabad's positive role in the region, she added. Dr Awan said both Pakistan and the UN were working on the agenda of world peace and stability. From world peace to combating climate change, Pakistan was one of the few countries, which had been striving to achieve the targets set by the UN, the special assistant to the prime minister said.

She said that peace and stability of the region was linked to peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan was fully supporting the peace process for a stable and prosperous Afghanistan.

Welcoming restoration of international games in Pakistan, Awan said that this was made possible by the sacrifices rendered by the security forces with the support of the nation. She said that the visits of international sports teams and now the visit of the UN secretary general was evidence that Pakistan was a peaceful country.