Global peace possible through upholding human rights: Masood

F.P. Report

Lahore: Sardar Masood Khan, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir has said that the today the world is in a state of flux dominated by a number of emerging issues, strifes and non-traditional threats which are a risk for global peace and security.

The President made these remarks while speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day seminar in Lahore on “Threats to Security in the 21st Century: A Global Way Forward”, organized by the School of Integrated Social Sciences, University of Lahore.

The President said that the world order must be based on upholding human rights and not dictated by realpolitik, xenophobia and warmongering. If the international rule of law does not become the norm, the world would, once again, plunge into a catastrophic global war, he said.

President AJK said that numerous challenges plague the world today creating disarray like terrorism, insurgencies, asymmetric warfare, civil wars. He added that issues like climate change, demographic changes, cyber conflict, energy deficits, water and food scarcity cannot be ignored.

Warfare, he said, has transcended its traditional parameters and today the use of drones and 4th and 5th generation warfare has transformed the global concepts of war. He said that today Europe has become a victim of xenophobic and Islamophobic elements, while hate speech and prejudice have become a norm all over the world. “Unfortunately, the rule of law and human rights has taken a back seat as strategic, economic and political interests has taken precedence in the new world order”, he said.

Projects like the Belt and Road Initiative is aimed at promoting economic connectivity between Asia, Europe and Africa, yet it is criticised by many. He said the world should understand that CPEC is designed for connecting countries, building transnational communities for prosperity, and creating conditions for peaceful neighbourhoods.

President Masood Khan said that Pakistan faces threats from India, the situation in Afghanistan, terrorism, subversion and proxy wars. He said that these existential threats have to be addressed with resolve and dedication. President Masood Khan said that peace and stability in South Asia has always been threatened by Indian hostilities towards Pakistan and its constant interventions in the affairs of its neighbouring nations The President said that Pakistan also faces other challenges like poverty, human development, rapid urbanization, social problems, political instability.

He said that we must make conscious efforts in addressing these issues which are directly and indirectly threatening our national security.