Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the actions of the 05 of August 2019 and the 05 of May 2022 by India in IIOJK were not only an assault on the people of Kashmir, but were an assault on the United Nations and Security Council, and its resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Addressing the Open Debate of UNSC in connection with “Conflict and Food Security” under agenda item “Maintenance of International Peace and Security” in New York on Thursday, he said resolving this lingering issue is essential for peace and stability in the South Asian region under the resolutions passed by the United Nations.

The foreign minister said the Muslim majority of Kashmir is being turned into a minority in their own land.

The foreign minister said that the people in Palestine and IIOJK were constantly imprisoned by perpetual conflict.

“Our continent is sinking and the planet is under threat. It is not a time to raise conflicts in the world,” he said.

Talking about the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the foreign minister said 95 percent of the people of the country were under the threat of poverty as a direct result of conflict.

“The war-hit Afghanistan needs the special attention of the international community to resolve its problems,” the minister said, adding that Pakistan realized that dialogue and diplomacy were the only way to end disputes.

Speaking about food security, Bilawal urged the United Nations and International Community to play a leading role to address the root causes of food insecurity and conflicts in the world.

Bilawal said that the world was constantly facing problems such as climate change, poverty, hunger and malnutrition.

He said these issues have immensely affected the global development and increased poverty and hunger during last thirty years.

He said the United Nation was founded 76 years ago to resolve conflicts, to end wars, to make peace, to battle hunger and poverty, and desperations and the world body must act as it is its mandate.

The Foreign Minister said Pakistan welcomes timely discussions on global food security issue. He said this initiative will go a long way in addressing the immediate crisis of food security, and the leadership behind such humanitarian efforts must be appreciated. He said the ‘Call to Action’ will help ramping up food production, to keep supply chains open and address blockages.

He said Pakistan looks forward to playing its active part in this bold ‘call to action’.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said although the world has progressed in promoting prosperity, but the systemic causes of conflict and poverty have yet to be overcome and inequality and insecurity are the hallmarks of our era.

The Foreign Minister said coronavirus pandemic, economic recession, spiraling prices and the escalating impacts of climate change have reversed global growth. He said with rising great power rivalries, political dialogue freezes frequently.