Pakistan raises Kashmir issue at UN; report indicates US not listening
SADA News
Wednesday, October 03, 2001 1:46:53 PM EST
NEW DELHI: Despite assurances that it would not raise the Kashmir issue at the international fora, Pakistan Tuesday told the United Nations General Assembly that people in the militancy-hit, Indian-administered state were still deprived of "their fundamental right to self-determination."
But another report indicated that Washington was not listening.
Pakistani ambassador Shamshad Ahmed raised the Kashmir issue during a discussion on combating terrorism, saying: "There are people who even today remain deprived of their fundamental right to self-determination. The Security Council resolution pertaining to their destiny and future remains unimplemented in the archives of this organization."
"It is time for courageous decisions for correcting historic wrongs and for redressing endemic injustices," he said.
He said a "just, lasting and honorable" settlement of the Palestine and Kashmir disputes would help bring peace and stability to the world. But television reports from Washington said the United States has agreed to address India's problem with terrorism supported by Pakistan.
The reports said this was conveyed to External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh during his meetings with Secretary of State Colin Powell and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld Tuesday. Secretary of State Powell described Monday's attack on the Kashmir legislature as "clearly an act of terror".
"The events that took place in Kashmir yesterday (Monday), that terrible terrorist act, that heinous act that killed innocent civilians and also struck at a government facility...It is this kind of terrorism that we are united against," Powell said.
"And as the president made it clear...we are going after terrorism in a comprehensive way, not just in the present instance of Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, but terrorism as it affects nations around the world, to include the kind of terrorism that affects India," he added.
Without naming Pakistan, Rumsfeld, however, said that "terrorists are...operating in countries because countries are tolerating that and if we are to ensure the way of life of free systems such as in our country and in India, the only choice we have is to take the battle to them."
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