Pakistan says veto to blame for non-resolution of Kashmir issue

NEW YORK (Staff Report) - Pakistan said at the United Nations that the use of the veto in the Security Council prevented a resolution of the longstanding dispute of Kashmir and hindered implementation of UN Resolutions on the issue.

Speaking in the intergovernmental negotiation process on Security Council reform, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi said those calling today for the extension of the veto to new permanent members of the Security Council at the same time criticise its use or abuse.

Reiterating the country's position that Pakistan was opposed to adding new permanent members to the Council with or without a veto, she said that any privileged role in decision making contradicts the shared goal of making the Security Council more democratic, representative and accountable.

“Pakistan supports expansion of the Security Council only in the non-permanent category”, she added

The debate at the UN Wednesday was on the issue of veto, which Pakistan's Permanent Representative insisted must be tackled as part of a comprehensive reform of the Security Council.

Ambassador Lodhi said that Pakistan’s proposal does not create any hierarchy of status or privilege, such as veto; it only provides additional, equitable and equal opportunity for States, that wish to shoulder more responsibility for maintenance of international peace and security.

Strongly opposing deferment of veto issue, Ambassador Lodhi said that Pakistan considers veto as an important key issue that needs to be tackled as part of a comprehensive reform of the Security Council,

“This cannot be ignored or deferred. Pakistan does not support any proposal that aims to defer consideration of this key issue or leave open the possibility of its extension to other members through a review process”, she added.

Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi warned the UN that if the values of the 21^st like democracy, equal opportunity and non-discrimination were ignored in reforming the Council, it would run the grave risk of making the United Nations, a “Divided Nations”.

Pakistan, she said, believes that ideally the veto should be abolished. “But being cognizant that such proposals could themselves be vetoed, we support pragmatic approaches and measures that could restrict or limit the use of veto”, she added.

Referring to the previous debates, Pakistani envoy said that much emphasis was placed on effectiveness of the Council and its decision-making. “If today the Council remains paralyzed and deadlocked over reconciling to accommodate the interests of the five permanent members, how will it cope with the interest of more such members?”, she questioned.

She concluded by reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to work towards genuine convergence among Member States, which can only be achieved by reconciling opposing views, aimed at achieving the widest possible political support. “This requires flexibility and accommodation on the part of all delegations”, she said.