President Zardari welcomes UN experts' report on India’s military actions against Pakistan in May 

Islamabad (Web Desk): President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday welcomed a report by United Nations human rights experts that raised strong alarm over India’s military actions against Pakistan in May and warned that such conduct posed risks not only to the region but to global peace and stability.

In a statement, the president said the UN assessment supported Pakistan’s consistent position that any unilateral use of force across international borders was a clear breach of the United Nations Charter and a serious violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.

He said the report’s findings regarding civilian deaths, destruction in residential areas and damage to religious sites inside Pakistan during the May incidents were deeply troubling, particularly in view of the increased danger of escalation attributed to India’s actions.

President Zardari also took note of the report’s comments on India’s unilateral announcement of placing its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, along with its aggressive stance, rhetoric and the significant civilian harm caused by Indian military operations.

He stressed that the Indus Waters Treaty remained a binding international agreement and a key foundation of regional stability, warning that bypassing established dispute-resolution mechanisms and interfering with water flows violated Pakistan’s rights and could result in serious human rights consequences.

The president said that the report reflected growing international concern over what he described as India’s conduct as a rogue state, increasingly behaving like a global bully by relying on coercion, intimidation and the normalisation of force and violence instead of law, diplomacy and dialogue.

He further noted that reports of transnational violence and targeted killings allegedly linked to India, which have surfaced in several countries, pointed to a dangerous and expanding pattern that went beyond the region and undermined accepted global norms.

Expressing concern, President Zardari said the report clearly highlighted India’s irresponsible behaviour as a state.

He observed that India had long suppressed its minorities and ignored its commitments to international forums, including the United Nations, and cautioned that such a pattern of conduct could not be allowed to continue indefinitely.

The president drew attention to the report’s clear conclusion that international law did not recognise any separate right to unilateral military action on the pretext of counter-terrorism.

He said the affirmation of Pakistan’s inherent right to self-defence under international law underscored the seriousness of the violations identified by the UN experts.

President Zardari also welcomed the UN experts’ examination of India’s regional activities, including concerns about alleged support for militant groups and the reported use of an illegitimate Afghan government to pursue hostile objectives, and called for transparency and accountability in this regard.

He further appreciated the call by UN Special Rapporteurs for the provision of credible evidence, compensation for civilian losses, strict adherence to treaty obligations and a renewed commitment to peaceful dialogue, including on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to peace, restraint and respect for international law, President Zardari said that Pakistan would continue to pursue diplomatic and legal avenues to defend its sovereignty, protect the rights of its people and work for lasting stability in the region.