Pakistan highlights plight of Palestinians, Kashmiris at UNSC debate

UNITED NATIONS, (APP): Pakistan drew attention to the suffering people of occupied Palestine and Kashmir at the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) debate on conflict-induced global food insecurity on Thursday, and deplored their virtual abandonment by “an indifferent international community”.

“While food insecurity accompanies most conflict situations, it becomes particularly acute and endemic in situations of prolonged foreign occupation,” Deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, Ambassador Mohammad Aamir Khan, told the 15-member Council.

The day-long debate was organized by the United States, which holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for the month of August. It was presided over by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Over 80 speakers took part in the debate, calling for unity in tackling global hunger and human suffering due to conflict and violence. They also urged Russia to re-join the Black Sea Grain Initiative that allowed grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices have pushed more people into poverty.

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“In this debate, attention has been devoted to some of these situations, but not others — I would like to draw special attention to the situations of the peoples of occupied Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir,” Ambassador Aamir Khan told high-level delegates from around the world.

“Both these peoples have suffered foreign occupation for seven decades,” he said, adding, “They have been subjected to blockades and lockdowns, collective punishments, including deliberate economic and food deprivation.

“And, so far, they have been virtually abandoned by an indifferent international community.”

The best solution to food insecurity in conflict zones, according to Khan, was the earliest cessation of the use of force and violence and the durable and just solution to these conflicts.

On occupied Jammu and Kashmir, he urged the Security Council to secure the implementation of its resolutions calling for a UN-supervised plebiscite to enable the people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.

“Meanwhile,” he added, “the world community must ensure that economic deprivation and food insecurity are not utilized by the Indian occupation to crush the legitimate freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people. ”