Getting Kashmir issue at centre of UN agenda ‘uphill task’, says Pakistan’s foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has accepted that there are no takers of its ‘Kashmir’ agenda at the United Nations council, an issue raked up by the neighbouring country frequently.

The Pakistan minister said his country has failed to get any traction or support for its agenda from the wider UN membership, news agency PTI reported.

“Islamabad faces an ‘uphill task’ to get the Kashmir issue into the ‘centre’ of the agenda of the United Nations,” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was quoted by PTI as saying. He fumbled as he went on to refer to India, describing it first as “our friend” before using the term “neighbouring” country, the report said.

Pakistan has time and again raised the issue of Kashmir at the UN council, irrespective of the topic or agenda being discussed, and has also drawn parallels between the situation in Palestine and Kashmir. But it has not suceeded in getting wider UN membership that considers Kashmir to be a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.

“You’re also right to note that we face a particularly uphill task to try and get Kashmir into the centre of the agenda at the United Nations,” Zardari said at a press conference.

“And whenever the issue of Kashmir is brought up, our friends within, with.. our friend… our.. our… neighbouring countries, strongly object, vociferously object and they perpetuate a post-fact narrative where they try to claim that this is not a dispute for the United Nations, that this is not a disputed territory recognised for the international community,” Pakistan’s foreign minister said.

The minister said though Pakistan finds it difficult to get the truth across, they are persistent in their efforts.

“I think your parallel is very justified. There are many similarities between the plight of the people of Kashmir and the plight of the people of Palestine. I think it’s fair to say that both issues remain unaddressed by the United Nations and we’d like to see an extra focus not only on Palestine but also on Kashmir,” he added.

The strained ties between India and Pakistan hit a new-low after New Delhi scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019. India’s decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy. India blames Pakistan for stirring the unrest by backing terrorists in Kashmir – a charge its neighbour denies.

New Delhi has maintained it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.

India has also reiterated that abrogation of Article 370 was its internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.