ISLAMABAD: The 17th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit has concluded in Venezuela. Pakistan clearly opposed attempts to equate right to self-determination’s legitimate struggle with terrorism in the summit.
The Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz led the Pakistani delegation at the summit held on September 17-18 at Venezuela’s Margarita Island, a Foreign Office statement said on Monday.
The summit concluded with the adoption of the NAM declaration on issues such as terrorism, self-determination, situation in Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq and a range of social and economic issues.
Aziz, in his statement, called for a just settlement of the issue of Jammu and Kashmir according to the wishes of the Kashmiri people, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council Resolution, for which he said that was a pre-requisite for peace in South Asia.
He raised the issue of grave violation of human rights committed by Indian forces in the held Kashmir. Aziz also condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. While highlighting sacrifices of Pakistan in the campaign against terrorism and its success in tackling this menace, he mentioned that Pakistan was ready to share its counter-terrorism experience with other NAM countries.
The adviser proposed to setup a high level panel to undertake a thorough review of the priorities of NAM, with a view to making it a ‘Movement of Solidarity’ that safeguards the interests of developing countries. The summit was attended by heads of states and governments including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, President Raul Castro of Cuba and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The leaders urged the revitalisation of NAM and adherence to its core principles and condemned the unilateralist policies of intervention, regime change through use of force and imposition of arbitrary sanctions.
