NEW YORK: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, in his meeting with United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres urged the UN chief to mobilize the international community to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza.
General Asim Munir arrived in Washington on his first official visit to the US since he became Pakistan’s army chief in November 2022. He discussed a range of mutual interest affairs, including regional security and ongoing conflicts, in his meetings with US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and other top American officials on Friday.
General Asim Munir met UNSG Guterres at the UN Headquarters in New York, the UN chief “warmly welcomed” the Pakistan army chief’s visit.
COAS reiterated Pakistan’s stance on the Palestine issue and urged the UNSG to mobilize the international community for immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza.
Asim Munir called on the UN chief to mobilize international support to end the “unfolding human tragedy” in Palestine, saying that a sustainable solution for the Israel-Palestine crisis lay in a two-state solution.
COAS particularly shared deep concerns over the plight of the innocent civilians who are being brutally targeted and are not being provided with sufficient humanitarian relief.
Munir also discussed Pakistan’s dispute with India over the Himalayan Kashmir region. He told Guterres that peace in South Asia would remain “elusive” until the longstanding Kashmir dispute is not resolved in accordance with the UN Security Council’s resolutions.
Over 18,000 Palestinian men, women and children have been killed in Gaza since October 7 by Israeli armed forces. Israel says its attacks are in retaliation for a full-pronged attack launched by Hamas on October 7 in which over 1,200 Israelis were reportedly killed and hundreds taken hostage.
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