Imran Khan says he will 'forcefully present Kashmir issue like never before' in UNGA address

Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan will raise the issue of human rights in Kashmir in his address to the UN General Assembly on 27 September. Khan will lead a Pakistani delegation in New York from 21 to 27 September. [caption id=“attachment_5653361” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan. Reuters[/caption] In his address to the UNGA, the prime minister will “share Pakistan’s perspective and position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and its current human rights and related dimensions,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement. “Overall, the centrality of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute would be emphasised through myriad engagements,” it said. Khan has already announced that he will highlight the Kashmir issue in his address to the UNGA on 27 September after India revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status last month. He said he will “forcefully present the Kashmir issue like never before” at the UN General Assembly session next week. Tension between India and Pakistan escalated after New Delhi revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on 5 August. Reacting sharply to India’s decision on Kashmir, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with New Delhi and expelled the Indian high commissioner. Asserting that abrogation of Article 370 was its internal matter, India has strongly criticised Pakistan for making irresponsible statements and provocative anti-India rhetoric over issues internal to it. Khan will also avail the opportunity to articulate Pakistan’s perspective on some key contemporary issues, the statement said. On the UNGA summit sidelines, the Pakistani premier will hold several bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other countries on climate change, sustainable development, universal health coverage and financing for development. A trilateral summit meeting of Pakistan, Malaysia and Turkey will be held on the General Assembly sidelines. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will also attend the UNGA and interact with his counterparts from various countries, and address important ministerial meetings, especially the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, the statement said.