Interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, during his address at the Asia Society conference in New York, articulated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to fostering peaceful and collaborative relations with India. He highlighted Pakistan’s initiatives, including the opening of the Kartarpur corridor for visa-free visits by the Indian Sikh community, as demonstrations of its positive outreach.
Jilani underscored the challenges faced in the bilateral relationship, pointing to India’s controversial actions in Indian Jammu Kashmir and the distressing human rights violations against Kashmiri civilians by Indian security forces. He further noted the rise of religious extremism in India, particularly directed towards Muslims, which has compounded the complexity of the situation.
Amid this intricate environment, Jilani lamented India’s confrontational stance and theatrical displays for domestic politics, emphasizing their detrimental impact on the prospects of regional peace and stability. He called for constructive dialogue to address all outstanding issues in Jammu and Kashmir.
Turning to Afghanistan, Jilani stressed Pakistan’s vital interest in a peaceful Afghanistan, both internally and in its regional and international interactions. Pakistan’s hosting of nearly four million Afghan refugees over four decades was acknowledged with pride. He emphasized the need to ensure their return for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Jilani also voiced concerns over the human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly regarding women’s rights, girls’ education, and women’s employment.
Addressing the issue of terrorism, Jilani unequivocally condemned all forms of it, including state-sponsored violence against religious minorities. He called for global unity in eradicating this menace and rejected attempts to politicize terrorism by associating it with specific countries, communities, regions, or religions.
Jilani highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing battle against terrorist groups like Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) operating from Afghan territory. He emphasized the need for international recognition of these outfits as a threat to the region and the global community.
In reference to the Ukraine conflict, Jilani reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful conflict resolution and respect for UN principles, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. Pakistan, he said, would continue its constructive role in efforts to end the war and alleviate the suffering of the Ukrainian people.
He also emphasized the critical importance of mitigating the global impact of the Ukraine-Russia crisis on food and energy security, expressing hope for the early resumption of the Black Sea grain initiative.
