Pakistan submits draft on regional disarmament at UN
By Sonita Taylor 'Pakistan Times' UN Special Correspondent

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has tabled a draft resolution in the General Assembly's First Committee on "regional disarmament", which stressed that such measures enhanced the security of all states.

Introducing the text, Pakistan's delegate Ms Rozina Tufail said that it was important to pursue disarmament efforts at international and regional levels.

Dr. Tufail, who is a member of the Pakistan National Assembly, said in most areas of tension, regional approaches could offer the most effective way to enhance security.

The draft, she said, expressed the conviction that such measures enhanced the security of all States. Adoption of the draft should encourage concerned countries to step up efforts at regional disarmament, strength regulation and international security.

Officials said that the draft would come up for a vote next week.

On Thursday, Rozina Tufail also participated in a thematic debate on regional disasrmament in the committee, which deals with disarmament-related matters.

Pakistan, she said, believed that efforts by countries to promote regional disarmament would enhance the stability of all states.

But such a move must take into account the specific characteristics of each region in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments.

The Pakistan delegate said it was highly advisable that state, wherever possible, should conclude agreements on disarmament, non-proliferation and confidence building measures at the regional and sub- regional levels.

Disarmament and conventional balance can be pursued in a very effective manner if global approaches are underpinned by sustained regional initiatives, she said. Both should move in tendum-- three elements are important: confidence-building measures; conflict and resolution, and credible measures towards regional disarmament.

"The predominant concerns about nuclear weapons tend to blur the focus on the threat posed by massive acquisitions of advanced and sophisticated weapons," Dr. Tufail said.

"Regions play a significant role in limiting conventional weapons and armed forces."

She proposed that efforts for peace and security should be anchored in peace making, peace keeping, equitable economic and trade practices, protection of civilians in conflicts, disalogue among civilizations and disarmament.

Stating that the approach towards disarmament should not be fragmented, the Pakistan delegate added, "Increasingly, regional organizations are promoting these objectives.

They are especially getting involved in supporting peace-keeping operations."●