New York:
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Friday and said he was looking forward to meeting PM Manmohan Singh in New York for a new beginning.
Following are the highlights of his speech:
- The United Nations must continue to remain attentive to the issue of Jammu and Kashmir
- Security Council needs to be more democratic and effective
- We continue to strive for a fair and just international order
- Suffering of the people can't be brushed under the carpet
- The issue was presented to the UNSC in 1948 and yet the issue remains unresolved
- Our two countries have wasted massive resources in an arms race
- We stand ready to reengage with India in a substantive and purposeful dialogue
- I look forward to meeting PM Manmohan Singh here in New York for a new beginning
- We can build on the Lahore Accord of 1999
- We have an honest hope that Afghans will unite for peace and prosperity of their great country
- Pakistan will work together with Afghanistan for regional and trade cooperation
- We hope that soon Palestine will join this body as a full member state
- Pakistan will continue to demonstrate its solidarity with the people of Palestine
- We appeal to the Syrian government and opposing groups to move to the negotiating table
- Pakistan remains opposed to the use of chemical weapons and condemns its use in the strongest terms
- As a responsible nuclear weapons state, we will continue to adhere to goals of disarmament and non-proliferation
- We will not agree to an arrangement that is detrimental to our strategic interests
- We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations
- I have tried to forge national consensus on a cohesive policy to eliminate terrorism from our soil
- We are resolved to oppose terrorism by all means at our disposal
- Winning hearts and minds of the youth is as important as using guns to deter terrorism
- Dialogue should not be seen as a sign of weakness
- We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations
- I have tried to forge national consensus on a cohesive policy to eliminate terrorism from our soil
- We are resolved to oppose terrorism by all means at our disposal
- Winning hearts and minds of the youth is as important as using guns to deter terrorism
- Dialogue should not be seen as a sign of weakness
- The use of armed drones is a continued violation of our territorial integrity, urge US to cease strikes
- Terrorism knows no borders and knows no religions or creed , maligning a whole people or religion is unwise
- Stereo typing of Muslims and terrorists and extremists must stop
- Terrorism negates Islam's humanist values
- Pakistan is the largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping efforts
- From the international community we don't seek aid but enhanced trade, market access and investment
- We intend to use education as a key driver of socio-economic development of Pakistan
- Minorities are equal citizens of Pakistan; deeply saddened by recent attack in Peshawar
- This attack has been carried out by same elements who have attacked mosques and members of our security forces
- As a non-permanent member of UNSC, Pakistan has been making every effort to resolve conflict through diplomacy