Presented Pak’s stance with clarity to international community, says Abbasi

NEW YORK: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Friday that he had 27 meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly's (UNGA) 72nd session in New York, where he presented a detailed stance of Pakistan with clarity on various issues to the members of international community.

Speaking at a press conference along with Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York Maleeha Lodhi, Abbasi said that he also had an informal meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Abbasi said that he informed the world that there are no terror safe havens in Pakistan, adding that in the entire world only Pakistan is engaged in the war against terrorism. The premier said that in his meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence, he informed him that Pakistan wants to see peace in Afghanistan.

"We want Afghan leadership to settle their disputes," he said.

He said Pakistan's viewpoint clearly and impactfully presented before the international community has been appreciated all across the board.

The premier said that a dossier of 300 pages documenting human rights violations in Kashmir has been presented to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Responding to a question, he said that there will be no re-shuffle of portfolios of his cabinet members in the coming days. 

PM's address in UNGA

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi during his address to the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Thursday, highlighted the persistent human rights violations in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK), terming India's role in the region the "most intense example of foreign occupation".

In what marked his debut at the highest international diplomacy — after taking over the office last month following former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's ouster in July — Abbasi delivered a crisp and concise speech that touched upon almost every key factor positive for or detrimental to Pakistan's growth and development.

The premier made it clear that Pakistan "is not prepared to be anyone's scapegoat", noting that Pakistan has been consistently active in the war against terrorism and has lost more to the cause than any other nation.

During his 20-minute speech, he said that while Daesh has been decimated in most Middle Eastern regions, including Yemen, the group's creeping global influence is evident through the recent events around the world.

Abbasi mentioned to the attendees that the UN charter has over time been eroding slowly, with unresolved conflicts taking a much larger part of the headlines than before, the rampant Indian aggression in occupied Kashmir a stark example of that.