Do More For Militancy, Zardari Urged To World

Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 11:15 am under Pakistan News

NEW YORK: President Asif Ali Zardari, stressing that Pakistan’s democracy has begun to deliver, Friday urged the world to do more for the peace and development of people affected by militancy and terror.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, the President said, “We are doing more in our self-interest. We urged the world democracies to do more for peace and for the development of people affected by militancy and terror”.

“We need to create economic opportunities for our people. We urge our friends and partners to help Pakistan with market access for the economic revival and well-being of their people”, he added. Pakistan, he said, will continue to play a constructive role in promoting conflict resolution and strategic restraint in South Asia and foster initiatives on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation on the basis of non-discrimination.

Equal security for all is important, he emphasised, adding, “We support all efforts for arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. The principle of equal security is of fundamental importance for achieving these objectives”. “Asymmetries in security especially at the regional levels need to be redressed,” he advocated.

Islamabad, he stated, desires friendly relations with India. Pakistan believes that dialogue is the only way forward. The absence of dialogue leads to tensions that must be avoided. “We look forward to the resumption of the Composite Dialogue process. We seek a peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues with India. Meaningful progress towards resolution of the Kashmir dispute is necessary for durable peace and stability in South Asia”, the president pleaded.

He thanked the world for supporting struggle for democracy. The President said democracy in Pakistan is beginning to achieve successes in the fight against militancy. “The real challenge now is to make democracy sustainable, indeed irreversible. This requires that democracy should be able to deliver, meet the aspirations of people for progress and prosperity and must give people of Pakistan peace and stability,” he stated.

“Democracy in Pakistan is of great importance, not only for our country, but also for our region, and the world. Pakistan has struggled hard for democracy. “My late wife Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto led the fight for democracy and laid down her life for it. Following in the footsteps of her great father Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto she made the ultimate sacrifice, so that our nation may live in democracy”, he added.

“We are now following in her footsteps I, my Party, my people and Pakistan’s democracy is grateful to the international community to our Secretary General, His Excellency, Ban Ki Moon for constituting an International Commission of Investigation into her assassination. We are confident that the Commission will bring out all dimensions of her life, work and tragic assassination.”

He held out Pakistan’s commitment to co-operation with the United Nations to fashion a safer and better world; A world in which all children,-yours and mine- live in peace and harmony.

“This is a world in which we all depend on one another. It demands a return to the path of the United Nations. It calls for reforming the United Nations. In Pakistan the will of the people has prevailed; Our people have witnessed a profound democratic transformation. “We have entered into a new era of Democracy, Rule of law and Human rights, has witnessed decades of conflict.” He told the world leaders that Pakistan has suffered greatly from terrorism and religious extremism.

“Terrorism and extremism was not known to our society and culture. Religious extremism entered into our society and the region when we all in the free world, decided to confront the rival ideology. The policy was based on the exploitation of religion to motivate Muslims around the world to wage jehad.

“It was the policy when the jehadi leaders were referred to as the ‘Moral equivalents of George Washington’. It was a policy that allowed war-lords and criminals to destroy civilisations to come.

“The virus multiplied and has affected the world. To eliminate militancy we must strike at its roots. Surgery alone would not be enough. We need to build immunity to contain, reverse and cure the disease. “We need to address the causes of deprivation, poverty and illiteracy.

“We need to adopt dialogue, development and a judicious use of force as Pakistan has firmly responded to the challenges of extremism and militancy. Democracy has given people ownership to the fight against terrorism.” The Pakistani nation, he said “stands fully united in this struggle. Our law enforcement agencies have, within a short span of time, cleared large areas in Malakand from the militants. Over 2.5 million were forced to leave their homes.

“About 2 million were hosted by their relatives and friends. I salute the host families. Democracy and political ownership of war have proved to be chief weapons in the fight against militancy.

“In a short span of ten weeks most of the internally dislocated have returned to their homes. We are now engaged in rebuilding their lives. Pakistan appreciates the support and understanding of the international community in our efforts. “We urge the international community to reinforce this support further. We are determined to eliminate terrorism and extremism from our territory.

“For this early return of peace and stability in Afghanistan is critical. The flow of weapons across the region must stop. The funding and support to militants by drug barons and other elements must stop. We also believe that regional co-operation against terrorism and extremism holds great promise.” In the regional context he said Pakistan emphasises regional efforts for peace and stability.

“Pakistan will continue to work with Afghanistan and the international community for the early restoration of peace and stability in that country. Pakistan has hosted more than 2.5 million Afghan refugees for the past three decades. We have been hosting them on our own. We call upon the world to help in the safe return of the refuges to their homes.”

“Pakistan desires friendly relations with India. We believe that dialogue is the only way forward. The absence of dialogue leads to tensions that must be avoided. We look forward to the resumption of the Composite Dialogue process. We seek a peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues with India. Meaningful progress towards resolution of the Kashmir dispute is necessary for durable peace and stability in South Asia.

“Pakistan also supports the rights of the Palestinian people as guaranteed in several UN resolutions. Durable peace in the Middle East requires that the issue of Palestine is addressed meaningfully. We also call for immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi.” Pakistan’s priority is economic development. We wish to build on our internal strengths.

In this effort, we seek partnerships, We seek to develop win-win situations. About Pakistan’s economic revival efforts, he said the government is engaged in economic revival by developing our agriculture, building mega hydel projects, initiating water conservation projects and undertaking infrastructure projects, promoting regional trade and co-operation, encouraging, beyond governments, the corporate sector in the development.

“We need to develop frameworks for co-operation that will deliver quickly. In overcoming the challenges faced by the world the United Nations has a central role to play. Guided by its principles and the high ideals in its Charter the UN is fated to succeed. A democratic Pakistan will continue to uphold the ideals and values of the United Nations. Together we shall succeed.”