Pakistan, 2013

I stand

here today before the Assembly, soon after my country

has seen a new dawn. I come to this Hall in all humility

as the elected Prime Minister of Pakistan for the third

time. I feel exonerated, as my supporters and I have

stood firm in our commitment to democracy.

I am happy to inform representatives that we now

have a strong Parliament, an independent judiciary,

a free media and a vibrant civil society. But there

is no room for complacency. We cannot lower our

guard. Democracy needs constant vigilance and

strong institutions. It needs careful nurturing. More

importantly, it is not promises but good governance that

sustains democracy. My Government has put the people

at the centre. We will work to give them peace and

security, an environment of growth and development. I

am pursuing an inclusive approach for the entire nation.

Pakistan is an ardent supporter of the United

Nations, which is an anchor of peace and a beacon

of hope for all nations. The United Nations universal

character provides a forum to discuss, develop and

implement global responses to the pressing problems

of our times. Pakistan upholds international law and

promotes international consensus. The security of our

world is ensured and reinforced by friendly relations

among nations and respect for the sovereignty and the

territorial integrity of States.

The United Nations needs reform, but it should

be a reform that reflects the interests of all, not

just the ambitions of a few. We believe that the

Security Council’s composition should be made more

representative, democratic and equitable, and its work

more effective, transparent and accountable. The

intended reforms must, however, plan for a dynamic

future, not entrench or replicate outdated historical

patterns based on privileges. The role and authority

of the General Assembly must be fully restored and

revitalized. In the past few years, the General Assembly

has regained influence in responding to challenges in

regard to peace and security, development and climate

change. It is becoming a platform of choice. Yet, it has

to go a long way to acquire its full authority.

To save the world from the scourge of war, we have

to continue to strive for a fair and just international

order based on the rule of law. Festering disputes must

be resolved. In that regard, the United Nations has to

play a critical role.

The United Nations must, for instance, continue to

remain attentive to the issue of Jammu and Kashmir

and the full realization of the right to self-determination

of its people. The suffering of the people cannot be

brushed under the carpet because of power politics.

As in the past, Pakistan calls upon the international

community to give an opportunity to the Kashmiris

to decide their future peacefully, in accordance with

the relevant Security Council resolutions. The issue

of Jammu and Kashmir was presented to the Security

Council in January 1948, and yet the issue remains

unresolved after nearly seven decades.

I have aspirations for regional peace and

stability. I have shared that vision with leaders in

our neighbourhood. Shortly after assuming office,

I received a message of goodwill from the Prime

Minister of India, Mr. Manmohan Singh. I extended an

invitation to him to engage with us so as to address

all outstanding issues between our two countries,

and Prime Minister Singh’s response was positive.

Our two countries have wasted massive resources

in an arms race. We could have used those resources

for the economic well-being of our people. We still

have that opportunity. Pakistan and India can prosper

together; and the entire region would benefit from our

cooperation. We stand ready to re-engage with India

in a substantive and purposeful dialogue. I am looking

forward to meeting Prime Minister Singh here in

New York so as to make a new beginning. We have a

solid basis for doing that. We can build on the Lahore

Accord signed in 1999, which contained a road map

for the resolution of our differences through peaceful

negotiations. I am committed to working for a peaceful

and economically prosperous region. That is what our

people want and what I have long aspired to.

It gave me great pleasure to welcome President

Karzai in Islamabad last month. We reaffirmed our

shared goal of a peaceful, stable and united Afghanistan.

The people of Afghanistan are and should remain

masters of their own destiny. We support an inclusive,

Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process, leading

to national reconciliation. I assured President Karzai

that we do not wish to interfere in Afghanistan’s internal

affairs; nor do we have any favourites in that country.

In fact, we hope earnestly that the Afghans themselves

will unite for the peace, prosperity and development of

their great country.

Pakistan encourages United Nations efforts to

stabilize Afghanistan. We will work together with

Afghanistan for regional and economic cooperation

aimed at establishing and reinforcing regional trade,

energy and communications corridors. Our solidarity

with the Afghan people has been demonstrated through

our willingness to host millions of Afghan refugees in

Pakistan for many decades. International support for

their repatriation to and reintegration in Afghanistan is

indispensable. We also look forward to United Nations

support for addressing other transregional challenges,

including the flow of narcotics.

Last year, the Assembly gave Palestine the status of

non-Member observer State. We hope that it will soon

join this body as a full Member State. We are glad that

the stalled peace process has started again. It should

lead to the consolidation of an independent, viable and

contiguous State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967

borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Pakistan

will continue to demonstrate its solidarity with the

people of Palestine.

Even as we meet here, Syria is in turmoil, with

Syrians killing Syrians. We appeal to the Syrian

Government and the opposition groups to move to

the negotiating table in Geneva to prepare a road map

for national reconciliation and the necessary political

transitions. More war will lead to more killings,

which must be stopped. As a party to the Convention

on the Prohibition of the Development, Production,

Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on

Their Destruction, Pakistan remains opposed to the

use of chemical weapons. We condemn their use in the

strongest terms.

We welcome the agreement reached between the

United States and Russia, and supported by the other

permanent members of the Security Council, to secure

and destroy chemical weapons in Syria. That crucial

step has facilitated consensus within the Council to

adopt resolution 2118 (2013), which not only addresses

the issue of chemical weapons but could start the

stalled political process in Syria, leading to national

reconciliation and solutions that are acceptable to the

people of Syria. Pakistan will support that resolution.

Acceptance of the Geneva communiqué (S/2012/522,

annex) and a decision on dates for convening a Geneva

II conference will be a big step towards ending the crisis

in Syria. I call on all forces to invest their political will

and capital in diplomacy to bring peace to that country.

As a responsible nuclear-weapon State, we will

continue to pursue the goals of disarmament and

non-proliferation and adhere to a policy of credible

minimum deterrence without entering into any arms

race. We cannot, however, remain oblivious to the

evolving security dynamics in South Asia, nor can

we agree to an arrangement that is detrimental to our

security and strategic interests. Our position on the

proposed fissile material treaty is determined by our

national security interests and the objective of strategic

stability in South Asia.

The safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear energy,

without discrimination, is essential for economic

development. Pakistan qualifies for full access to civil

nuclear technology for peaceful purposes in order to

meet its growing energy needs for continued economic

growth. By the same token, as a mainstream partner

in the global non-proliferation regime, Pakistan has

impeccable credentials for joining the multilateral

export control regime, including the Nuclear

Suppliers Group. Pakistan will continue to participate

constructively in the Nuclear Security Summit, which

is a laudable initiative.

As a country that has suffered grievously for many

years from terrorism, we condemn that phenomenon in

all its forms and manifestations. Over the past 12 years,

we have made huge sacrifices in blood and resources.

We have lost 40,000 precious lives of men, women

and children, including 8,000 defence and security

personnel. There has been colossal damage to our social

and physical infrastructure, too. Our economy has

been denied the opportunity to grow fully. That must

change now. I have tried to forge national consensus on

a cohesive policy to eliminate terrorism from our soil.

For that purpose, I convened an all-parties conference

that spoke out unanimously against terrorism. We are

resolved to oppose the forces of terrorism with every

means at our disposal. At the same time, we have offered

dialogue to end violence, wean young extremists off

extremism and integrate all segments of our society

into the national mainstream. Winning young people’s

hearts and minds is as important as using guns to deter

terrorism. But dialogue should not be seen as a sign of

weakness or a tool of appeasement.

The war against terrorism must be waged within the

framework of international law. The use of armed drones

in the border areas of Pakistan is a continued violation

of our territorial integrity. It results in innocent civilian

casualties and is detrimental to our resolve and efforts

to eliminate extremism and terrorism in Pakistan. I

have urged the United States to cease those strikes so

that we can avoid further casualties and suffering.

Terrorism knows no borders. It has no religion

or creed, which is why maligning a whole people or

a religion on that account is unfair and unwise. Islam

is a religion of peace, compassion and brotherhood.

And the yet most insidious form of contemporary

racism in the name of religion is on the rise. Peaceful

Muslim communities are profiled and subjected to

discriminatory practices. Their faith, culture, holy

personalities and scriptures are under attack. The

stereotyping of Muslims as extremists and terrorists

must stop. We must all use the influence and reach

of the United Nations to avert a clash of civilizations

and to promote harmony among followers of diverse

religions all around the world. Terrorism negates

Islam’s humanistic outlook and noble values. Those

who perpetrate terrorism are enemies of Muslims and

Islam itself.

Pakistan is the largest troop contributor to United

Nations peacekeeping. Since 1960, we have contributed

150,000 troops, and 135 of our peacekeepers have lost

their lives in the service of peace. That has been our

most tangible assistance to the United Nations efforts

to maintain international peace and security.

We fully support the United Nations effort to

finalize and implement a single, coherent post-2015

development agenda that identifies benchmarks for

poverty alleviation, sustainable development and

social inclusion. More importantly, we should prepare

ourselves to respond effectively to save our planet from

the ravages of climate change.

Our Government is undertaking an economic

revolution in Pakistan so that it, too, can become part of

the emerging markets. We have all the fundamentals and

human and natural resources for such a transformation.

In the immediate future, our challenge is to overcome

a volatile security environment, correct structural

imbalances in the economy and bring an end to energy

shortages. We are building a new Pakistan with a robust

economy. From the international community, we seek

not aid but enhanced trade, market access, investment

and strong economic partnerships.

We are creating a new framework for change

to provide equal opportunities and social justice

for everyone, eliminate the exploitation of the poor,

harness our human resources and restore the dignity

of our citizens. We intend to use education as a key

driver of the socioeconomic development of Pakistan.

We are introducing a national health service across

Pakistan with the participation of the private sector. We

have also made the eradication of polio in Pakistan a

matter of great importance for my Government, as we

are determined to make Pakistan a polio-free country.

It is our strong resolve to promote the full

participation of women in national development, while

protecting their political, social and cultural rights as

agents of change. More than 63 per cent of our population

is under the age of 25. By investing in their education

and skills, we aim to tap into the demographic dividend.

Minorities are equal citizens of Pakistan. They will not

only have complete freedom to worship, but also full

protection of their rights to education, employment and

political participation.

We are deeply saddened by the recent terrorist attack

on the members of a minority community in Peshawar.

That heinous attack has united the entire Pakistani

nation in support of our brothers and sisters of all faiths

in Pakistan. We share their grief and have declared

three days of mourning. The attack was carried out

by the same elements who have attacked our mosques,

shrines, innocent citizens and members of our security

forces. However, the attack has further strengthened

my Government’s resolve to deal with terrorism and

extremism in a resolute and comprehensive manner,

as I reiterated in my very first speech at the National

Assembly of Pakistan.

In conclusion, I wish to emphasize to the Assembly

that Pakistan is a strong supporter of multilateral

diplomacy, convinced that it is the most legitimate and

ultimate guarantor of peace and security, economic and

social development, and respect for universal human

rights. As a non-permanent member of the Security

Council, Pakistan has been making every effort to

strengthen the role of diplomacy to resolve conflicts

and to help build States in post-conflict situations. In

all instances, we have upheld the primacy of the Charter

of the United Nations. We need multilateral diplomacy

so that we continue to respect diversity while reaching

decisions that impact our fate as members of the

international community. Towards that end, the United

Nations — the virtual world parliament — is our best

hope.