After the World War II, United Nation was established in 1945 to protect the world peace and stability, protect human rights, promote sustainable development, resolve issues among nation diplomatically through dialogue, and maintain justice, etc. Initially, the UN was functioned well and has delivered as per its charter.
Unfortunately, the US and its allies became a major donor to the UN and then they hijacked on many occasions. UN failed to implement its resolution on Israel-Palestine and Kashmir, etc. UN failed to protect Bosnians, Iraqis, Libyans, Afghanis, Syrians, Rohingyans, etc.
In a matter of fact, the UN and its various organizations were used to coerce other nations. The US and its allies have a set-pattern of the political system, if any country does not fit in their frame, they start to harm them. Imposing sanction on Russia, Iran, and many other countries are only politically motivated to exert pressure on them.
Pakistan has warned that politicizing the UN counterterrorism machinery would only compromise the integrity of the regime, as China also warned against “forcefully moving” a resolution in the UN Security Council. It was referred to the resolution moved by France regarding “Masood Azhar”, which was also backed by UK and US on political grounds, but not on merit. It was only China, who blocked it. China is a mature state and understands its obligations and cannot agree with any resolution lacking investigations and appropriate evidence.
During Security Council debate on “Preventing and Combating the Financing of Terrorism” Pakistan’s Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi said that current structures like FATF and the 1267 Sanctions regimes should not be used as political tools by some to advance their geopolitical goals. She recommended “There is also a need to make these institutions more inclusive of the wider membership in their decision-making processes,” As monopoly of few countries, may not meet the requirement of absolute justice, especially, when they are biased.
She identified the lack of international attention given to foreign intervention and foreign occupation, denial of the right to self-determination to peoples living under foreign occupation and continued violations of international law and the UN Charter as examples of such gaps. She pointed out that continued and persistent violations of human rights contributed to violent extremism. Yet killings continue in India-held Kashmir and Palestine.
Ambassador Lodhi said that brutalization and oppression of people struggling for their legitimate right to self-determination constituted state terrorism, which should also be the focus of international attention. “Pakistan has been the principal victim of terrorism, including that supported, sponsored and financed from abroad,” she said. “But this has not diminished my country’s resolve to eliminate this scourge.”
Ambassador Lodhi also told the Security Council that Pakistan had criminalized terrorist financing in accordance with the Terrorism Financing Convention and had enacted laws to eliminate terrorism financing risks and implement its international obligations, including those arising from FATF recommendations and 1267 Sanction Regime.
In Beijing “Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said the US move was not in line with the resolution of the issue through dialogue and negotiations. He remarked that this action had undermined the authority of the sanctions committee as the main anti-terrorism body of the UNSC. “Such an act will do nothing to facilitate a solution through consultation and will only lead to further complication of the issue,”. It was a principled stand and the only merit should meet the criteria.
If analyze UN performance in the last couple of decades, one may reach to a conclusion that a wide range of deep reforms is required to make UN and its organizations to more rational for delivering its objectives as per UN charter.
Russia and China were also victims of many sanctions and unfair treatment along with many other nations. I believe the time has reached to think maturely and wisely to protect global peace, security, economy, and prosperity. Respect Humanity! Respect UN charter in true spirit!
Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Sinologist (ex-Diplomate), Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan.