Pakistan’s UN Ambassador reaffirm commitment to Kashmiri people’s struggle on Pakistan Day
New York: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting the Kashmiri people’s struggle for freedom from Indian occupation.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar made these remarks during a flag-hoisting ceremony held at the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations to mark Pakistan Day. He recalled that 85 years ago, millions of Muslims gathered at the historic Minar-e-Pakistan under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, setting an enduring example of perseverance, courage, and selflessness in achieving the creation of Pakistan.
Ambassador Iftikhar emphasized that by adopting the lessons and values of Pakistan’s founders in both individual and collective lives, there is no reason why Pakistan cannot be firmly on the path to development and prosperity.
During the ceremony, messages from President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar were read out.
Referring to India’s violation of Pakistan’s airspace in February 2019 and the Pakistan Air Force’s resolute response, Ambassador Iftikhar highlighted that this incident established a strong strategic deterrent against any external aggression. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire for peaceful and friendly relations with its neighbors. However, he stressed that the grave human rights violations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir cannot be ignored, and that supporting the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination is Pakistan’s moral, political, and diplomatic responsibility. Ambassador Iftikhar committed to continuing the advocacy for the inalienable rights of the Kashmiri people.
He also reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, recalling the strong solidarity with Palestinians expressed in the Lahore Resolution of 1940.
