Pakistan calls for safety of Gaza civilians, reiterates Kashmiris’ right to self-determination

Pakistan has called for the protection of civilians in Gaza, unimpeded humanitarian assistance, and strict adherence to international law, while reiterating the right to self-determination of the Palestinian and Kashmiri peoples.

“The credibility of the international human rights system depended on closing the gap between principles and their implementation,” said Usman Jadoon, Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative, speaking at the United Nations.

He said international law and principles of human rights must be followed universally, stressing that it was not acceptable for such standards to be upheld in one case, while being ignored in another.

“The plight of the Palestinians in Gaza was a defining moment for the international community’s commitment to human rights,” Jadoon said. Stating that the same principle applies to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the “inalienable right to self-determination” of the Palestinian people.

The people of Kashmir had been waiting for the execution of the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council for almost eight decades, he said.

The Pakistani envoy also called on the world community to combat the rising trends of Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia, adding that the religion, ethnicity or identity of a person should not define his or her human dignity.

Jadoon said the international community should bridge the gap between its human rights promises and the realities on the ground.

He said that dignity should not be defined by power, justice should not be defined by politics and development should not be defined as privilege.

He urged for the universal, consistent and non-discriminatory application of human rights principles, highlighting the importance of translating international pledges into action on the ground.