Mumtaz Hussain
UNITED NATIONS: Senate Chairman Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has warned that violations of binding international treaties are eroding global respect for international law, stressing that universal adherence to legal commitments is essential for maintaining a stable world order.
Leading a Pakistani parliamentary delegation, Gilani met Tulia Ackson, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), on the sidelines of the IPU’s two-day Annual Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations headquarters.
During the meeting, Gilani highlighted what he described as the continued non-implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, stating that such inaction undermines the UN Charter and the sanctity of international treaties. He also criticized India’s decision to put in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a “dangerous precedent” and a blatant violation of international law that could endanger the lives and livelihoods of millions of Pakistanis.
The Senate chairman urged the IPU to continue facilitating dialogue aimed at strengthening respect for international law and treaty obligations.
On regional security, Gilani reiterated Pakistan’s desire for a stable and prosperous Afghanistan but expressed concern over the alleged use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan. He cited the presence of militant groups including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Al-Qaeda, and ISIL-K, claiming that these groups operate with impunity and that the Afghan Taliban have failed to fulfill international counter-terrorism obligations.
Gilani also emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to parliamentary diplomacy and multilateral cooperation. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the IPU’s development agenda and pledged closer collaboration to strengthen parliamentary action on global challenges.
Recalling Pakistan’s hosting of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference in Islamabad in 2025, he said such engagements promote dialogue, peace, and mutual understanding among nations.
Welcoming the delegation, IPU President Tulia Ackson praised Pakistan’s role in promoting dialogue within multilateral forums and underscored the IPU’s position as the world’s oldest and most inclusive global forum of parliaments.
She noted that the IPU provides a unique platform for parliamentarians worldwide to address contemporary global issues through dialogue and cooperation.
