Pakistan Prime Minister Addresses General Debate, 74th Session
- 5 years ago
PM Imran advocates Kashmir issue at UNGA, slams India’s Modi
NEW YORK: Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday, where he drew world attention to the emerging humanitarian crisis in Indian occupied Kashmir, among other issues.
At the beginning of his speech, Prime Minister Imran spoke on the issue of climate change, where he said that this issue is not of a single country but should be dealt with collectively.
“Our country is among the top 10 nations in the world, which are most affected by climate change,” he said.
Pakistan being an agricultural country primarily, derives 80 per cent of its water from glaciers, said the premier, adding that the glaciers are melting at an alarming pace.
“I feel the UN must take leadership in this,” he said, adding that the great powers will have to step up. .
Speaking on Kashmir, PM Imran said that the issue was the reason he came to the session and speak about what is happening in the occupied valley.
Under the guise of ‘Islamic terrorism’ India is inflicting more cruelty on the people of Kashmir, he said.
"There is no other narrative left for India,” said the PM, adding that there is another chance of a Pulwama-like incident to blame and ‘bomb’ Pakistan.
“India must lift this inhuman curfew,” said PM Imran, further saying that 'picked-up persons' from the valley should be released by India.
Due to these issues, eight million people under lockdown in the valley are likely to get radicalised, he said.
“I want to make one thing clear that when we came to power my first priority was that Pakistan would be a country which will try its best to bring peace,” he said.
"We went though a nightmare. 70,000 people were killed. No Pakistani was involved in 9/11. The Taliban was in Afghanistan, Al qaeda was in Afghanistan. When we came to power, we decided that we would dismantle what was left of these groups."
The Pakistan prime minister raised the issue of corruption in poorer countries and billions of dollars being siphoned off to richer countries and tax havens.
"Every year, billions of dollars leave the poor countries and go to the rich countries. Billions of dollars are siphoned off from the poor countries. Mr president, this is devastating for the poorer countries," he said.
Speaking on the menace of Islamophobia, the prime minister said that billions of Muslims are living as minorities in the western countries and since 9/11 the rise in Islamophobia is ‘alarming’.
Also read: PM Imran urges UNSC, world to take action on Kashmir situation
PM Imran told the UN that there should be an understanding for other faiths, but they are seen as creating division among global population.
“Hijab has become an issue in some countries… it is seen as a weapon,” he said.
“There is no such thing as radical Islam,” said the prime minister, pointing out that all religions have individuals carrying out radical acts.
NEW YORK: Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday, where he drew world attention to the emerging humanitarian crisis in Indian occupied Kashmir, among other issues.
At the beginning of his speech, Prime Minister Imran spoke on the issue of climate change, where he said that this issue is not of a single country but should be dealt with collectively.
“Our country is among the top 10 nations in the world, which are most affected by climate change,” he said.
Pakistan being an agricultural country primarily, derives 80 per cent of its water from glaciers, said the premier, adding that the glaciers are melting at an alarming pace.
“I feel the UN must take leadership in this,” he said, adding that the great powers will have to step up. .
Speaking on Kashmir, PM Imran said that the issue was the reason he came to the session and speak about what is happening in the occupied valley.
Under the guise of ‘Islamic terrorism’ India is inflicting more cruelty on the people of Kashmir, he said.
"There is no other narrative left for India,” said the PM, adding that there is another chance of a Pulwama-like incident to blame and ‘bomb’ Pakistan.
“India must lift this inhuman curfew,” said PM Imran, further saying that 'picked-up persons' from the valley should be released by India.
Due to these issues, eight million people under lockdown in the valley are likely to get radicalised, he said.
“I want to make one thing clear that when we came to power my first priority was that Pakistan would be a country which will try its best to bring peace,” he said.
"We went though a nightmare. 70,000 people were killed. No Pakistani was involved in 9/11. The Taliban was in Afghanistan, Al qaeda was in Afghanistan. When we came to power, we decided that we would dismantle what was left of these groups."
The Pakistan prime minister raised the issue of corruption in poorer countries and billions of dollars being siphoned off to richer countries and tax havens.
"Every year, billions of dollars leave the poor countries and go to the rich countries. Billions of dollars are siphoned off from the poor countries. Mr president, this is devastating for the poorer countries," he said.
Speaking on the menace of Islamophobia, the prime minister said that billions of Muslims are living as minorities in the western countries and since 9/11 the rise in Islamophobia is ‘alarming’.
Also read: PM Imran urges UNSC, world to take action on Kashmir situation
PM Imran told the UN that there should be an understanding for other faiths, but they are seen as creating division among global population.
“Hijab has become an issue in some countries… it is seen as a weapon,” he said.
“There is no such thing as radical Islam,” said the prime minister, pointing out that all religions have individuals carrying out radical acts.