Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir has urged United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres to mobilise the international community for immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza to prevent the unfolding human tragedy.

He highlighted that “enduring solution to the issue lies in two-state solution” during a meeting at the UN Headquarters, New York, said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations on Saturday.

The Israel’s assault in response to Hamas’s October 7 attack has killed around 19,000 people, with thousands more feared buried under rubble, according to Gaza health authorities.

Aid agencies, warning of mass starvation and disease for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, have long pleaded for Israel to speed up deliveries by letting aid enter directly at Kerem Shalom.

The COAS-UN chief meeting came during the army chief’s visit to the US. The UNSG welcomed the visit by the COAS and appreciated the contributions made by Pakistan Army and contingents of the law enforcement agencies.

COAS Munir called on key US government and military officials during his ongoing visit to the US including, Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, General Llyod J Austin (retd), the secretary of defence, Victoria Nuland, the deputy secretary of state, Jonathan Finer, the deputy national security adviser and General Charles Q Brown, the chairman of joint chiefs of staff.

While reiterating Pakistan’s stance on the Palestine issue, the army chief shared “deep concerns” over the plight of the innocent civilians who “are being brutally targeted and are not being provided with sufficient humanitarian relief.”

The UNSG acknowledged the concerns and thanked COAS Munir for the visit to the UN headquarters.

While presiding over the Corps Commanders’ Conference in October, COAS Munir said that Palestinians have the support of Pakistan and the country would back their principled stance for enduring resolution of the issue.

“We will continue to support the principled stance of our brethren for enduring resolution of the Palestinian issue and end to the unlawful occupation of their territories and Muslims’ sacred places,” he had said.

Peaceful solution to Kashmir dispute

COAS Munir during his interaction also highlighted the Kashmir issue.

“Peace in South Asia would remain elusive until a peaceful solution to the longstanding Kashmir dispute is found in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of Kashmiri people,” the army chief said.

He also condemned “unilateral and illegal” Indian efforts to change the status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir as it was in violation of the UNSC resolutions.

Earlier this week, India’s top court said the special status given to the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) before its revocation in 2019 was a temporary provision.

Supreme Court of India in its decision announced that the occupied territory became an integral part of India “which is evident from Article 1 and 370 of the constitution”.