UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan today [Nov 15] formally introduced its draft resolution to the First Committee that would have the UN General Assembly endorse “in principle” the concept of a nuclear-free zone in South Asia, a step that would lead to the elimination of nuclear threat from the six-State region. The draft was tabled by the leader of the Pakistan delegation, Foreign Secretary Agha Shahi, with the hope that “vision will prevail over calculations of narrow and illusory advantage” and that “principles will be put above expediency”. Mr. Shahi said Pakistan had heard with great attention the views expressed in the General Assembly, and made an earnest effort to take them into account. Indeed … the fact that the submission of the draft was delayed so long was due to the efforts the Pakistan delegation had been making to render it as widely acceptable as possible.

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from New York,] Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Omar Sakkaf died Thursday night [Nov 14] … in his Waldorf Astoria suite, the Saudi Ambassador to the United Nations announced. Mr Sakkaf, 50, was in New York to attend the UN debate on Palestine. … Sheikh Omar Sakkaf was one of the most imposing Arab diplomatic figures.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2024