Sharif at UN: Rakes up Kashmir, proposes 4-pt peace formula

Using the podium of the UN, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today raked up the Kashmir issue, terming its non-resolution as a failure of the world body, and proposed a 4-point "peace initiative" with India which includes demilitarisation of Kashmir.

He also proposed "unconditional and mutual withdrawal" of forces from Siachen, restraint by both countries from "use or the threat of use of force under any circumstances" and formalisation of the 2003 border ceasefire as part of the formula to ensure peaceful ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Addressing the 193-member UN General Assembly, Sharif equated Kashmir with Palestine while talking about "suffering of Muslims across the world", saying "Palestinians and Kashmiris (are) oppressed by foreign occupation."

He underlined the "primacy and urgency" of addressing the issues of Kashmir and peace and security between India and Pakistan while saying "Cooperation, not confrontation, should define our relationship."

At the same time, he insisted that "consultations with Kashmiris, who are an integral part of the dispute, are essential to evolving a peaceful solution."

India has already ruled out any role for Kashmiris.

Contending that normalisation of relations with India has been his priority since he came to office, Sharif said the two countries "should address and resolve the causes of tension" and take all possible measures to avert further escalation.

"That is why I want to use the opportunity today to propose a new peace initiative with India, starting with measures that are the simplest to implement:

"One, we propose that Pakistan and India formalize and respect the 2003 understanding for a complete ceasefire on the line of Control in Kashmir. For this purpose, we call for UNMOGIP's (UN Military Observation Group in India and Pakistan) expansion to monitor the observance of the ceasefire.

"Two, we propose, that Pakistan and India reaffirm that they will not resort to the use or the threat of use of force under any circumstances. This is a central element of the UN Charter.

"Three, steps be taken to demilitarize Kashmir.

"Four, agree to an unconditional mutual withdrawal from Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battleground," he said.

While proposing the formula, he said, "an easing of threat perceptions through such peace efforts will make it possible for Pakistan and India to agree on a broad range of measures to address the perilposed by offensive and advanced weapons systems."

Sharif also talked about terrorism and claimed that his government would fight it "in all its forms and manifestations irrespective of who their sponsors are" as Pakistan was the "primary victim".

"Our peoples need peace to prosper. Peace can be achieved through dialogue, not disengagement," the Pakistan Prime Minister said.

Referring to Kashmir, he said since 1947, the dispute has remained unresolved and UN Security Council resolutions have remained unimplemented.

"Three generations of Kashmiris have only seen broken promises and brutal oppression. Over 100,000 have died in their struggle for self-determination. This is the most persistent failure of the United Nations," he said.

Sharif said that when the Composite Dialogue was launched with India in 1997, the two countries had "agreed that this would encompass two principal items: Kashmir and Peace and Security, along with six other issues, including terrorism."

He said, "The primacy and urgency of addressing these two issues (Kashmir and Peace and Security) is even more compelling today."

Sharif said when he assumed office of the Prime Minister in June 2013 for the third time, one of his first priorities was to normalize relations with India.

"I reached out to the Indian leadership to emphasize that our common enemy was poverty and underdevelopment... Yet today ceasefire violations along the line of Control and the Working Boundary are intensifying, causing civilian deaths including women and children," he said.

"Wisdom dictates that our immediate neighbor refrains from fomenting instability in Pakistan," the Prime Minister said.

Bringing up Kashmir while talking about "suffering of Muslims across the world" like in Palestine, he said the international community must redress "these injustices against the Muslim people".

Talking about South Asia, Sharif said its history is one of missed opportunities and "among its dire consequences is the persistence of poverty and deprivation in our region."

He said development was his government's first priority and has underpinned his policy to build a peaceful neighbourhood.

"South Asia needs strategic stability and this requires serious dialogue to achieve nuclear restraint, conventional balance and conflict resolution," Sharif said.

"Pakistan neither wants to, nor is it engaged in, an arms race in South Asia. We cannot, however, remain oblivious to the evolving security dynamics and arms buildup in our region, which obliges us to take essential steps to maintain our security," he added.

At the same time, he said, "As a responsible nuclear weapon state, Pakistan will continue to support the objectives of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. We have maintained the highest standards of nuclear security and have established an effective regime to ensure the safety and security of our nuclear facilities and stocks."

He said Pakistan looks forward to playing its part to build a brighter era of peace and prosperity in South Asia. "We owe it to our people and to succeeding generations."

Sharif was all praise for China, particularly appreciating the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which is being objected to by India as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.