Pakistan backs China’s efforts for socio-economic growth in Xinjiang
Pakistan on Tuesday said it supports China’s efforts for socio-economic development, harmony and peace, and stability in Xinjiang, days after the United Nations released a report detailing a string of alleged rights violations against Uighurs and other minorities in the region.
The UN on Sep 1 released a major report into the alleged serious human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region, saying torture allegations were credible and citing possible crimes against humanity, but stopping short of calling it genocide.
The long-awaited report brought the UN seal to many of the allegations long brought by activist groups, Western nations, and the Uighur community in exile.
“The extent of arbitrary and discriminatory detention of members of Uighur and other predominantly Muslim groups … may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity,” the report had said.
It said the world must now pay “urgent attention” to the human rights situation in Xinjiang.
However, reacting to the report, the Foreign Office issued a statement today, saying: “Pakistan believes in the principles of the UN Charter including respect for political independence, sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs of states.”
The FO said it was Pakistan’s consistent position that non-politicization, universality, objectivity, dialogue, and constructive engagement should be the main tools to promote universal respect for human rights.
It underlined that China had succeeded in lifting over 700 million people out of poverty in the last 35 years, thus improving their living conditions and the enjoyment of fundamental human rights.
“We appreciate China’s constructive engagement with the UN human rights system as well as the OIC General Secretariat, as evidenced by visits of the former High Commissioner for Human Rights and OIC delegation to China,” it added.
The statement added that Pakistan reaffirmed its abiding commitment to advance all human rights universally in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.
The UN report was in the making for around a year and its release was bitterly opposed by China.
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