Ready To Use Good Offices, If Asked: UN
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
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United Nations, Oct 7: The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the United Nations was willing to use its “good offices†in resolving the Kashmir issue if both India and Pakistan sought the assistance of the world body.
“As far as this role of good offices is concerned, the United Nations normally takes that initiative when requested by both parties concerned,†Ban told journalists during his monthly briefing at the UN Headquarters.
“India and Pakistan, they are neighbouring countries, important nations in that region – peace and security would have important implications (for them),†the UN chief said.
Kashmir Valley has been in grip of violent protests since June 11 killing around 110 civilians.
“I regret the latest loss of lives (in Kashmir). I have been calling for an immediate end to violence and urge calm and restraint by all concerned,†Ban said. “That is the position of the United Nations at this time,†he said.
This is for the first time that the UN chief has himself made a statement on Kashmir this year.
Earlier, on September 22, Ban’s chief spokesman Martin Nesirky quoting the UN Secretary-General had called for an immediate end to violence in Kashmir and appealed for restraint by all parties.
“The Secretary-General regrets the latest loss of life in Kashmir. He (Ban) calls for an immediate end to violence and urges calm and restraint by all concerned,†Ban’s chief spokesman had told journalists, adding that Ban was “closely following eventsâ€.
The Nesirky’s statement came almost a month after UN spokesman Farhan Haq sent out an email, which said that Ban called on “all concerned to exercise utmost restraint and address problems peacefully.â€
Ban went further and called for “rekindling the spirit of the composite dialogue†between India and Pakistan.
“He (Ban) encourages both sides to rekindle the spirit of the composite dialogue, which was initiated in 2004 and had made encouraging progress on some important confidence building measures, and to make renewed efforts to address outstanding issues, including on Jammu and Kashmir,†the statement had said.
“He underlines the need for patience, perseverance and compromise on all sides,†it added.
Following protests by the Indian government, the UN had described it as “media guidance†and not a “statement by the Secretary-Generalâ€.
Pertinently, UN has passed 18 resolutions acknowledging the right to self-determination of people of Jammu and Kashmir. The resolutions were passed after India herself took Kashmir as a dispute to the UNO and got it registered on January 1, 1948. The UN mediation process brought the war between India and Pakistan to a close on January 1, 1949.
This is not for the first time that UN has expressed concern over the human right issues in Kashmir and asked both the governments of India and Pakistan to discuss a permanent solution to Kashmir. Earlier also UN has made statements on the situation in Kashmir seeking end to the turmoil in the region.
United Nations has its military observers group stationed in both parts of Kashmir. The first group of United Nations military observers arrived in the area on 24 January of 1949 to supervise the ceasefire between India and Pakistan in the Kashmir. These observers, under the command of the Military Adviser appointed by the UN Secretary-General, formed the nucleus of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
Following renewed hostilities of 1971, UNMOGIP has remained in the area to observe developments pertaining to the strict observance of the ceasefire of 17 December 1971 and report thereon to the Secretary-General.
On September 28 this year Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi while speaking at the UN General Assembly had expressed “complete solidarity†with Kashmiris and offered to engage India in a comprehensive dialogue to find amicable solutions to all issues, including the Kashmir dispute.
Qureshi had also “strongly condemned†the “brutality†in Kashmir.
“Pakistan views the prevailing situation in the Kashmir with grave concern. The human rights of the Kashmiri people must be respected, and their voices heard to create an enabling environment for a peaceful solution of the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute,†he told the General Assembly.
Reacting to Qureshi’s remarks, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna had told the UN that Pakistan was sponsoring terrorism in Kashmir.
“Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India, is the target of Pakistan-sponsored militancy and terrorism,†Krishna had said.
Ban Ki Moon SPEAKSReady To Use Good Offices, If Asked: UNPRESS TRUST OF INDIASmallerDefaultLarger United Nations, Oct 7: The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the United Nations was willing to use its “good offices†in resolving the Kashmir issue if both India and Pakistan sought the assistance of the world body.“As far as this role of good offices is concerned, the United Nations normally takes that initiative when requested by both parties concerned,†Ban told journalists during his monthly briefing at the UN Headquarters.“India and Pakistan, they are neighbouring countries, important nations in that region – peace and security would have important implications (for them),†the UN chief said.Kashmir Valley has been in grip of violent protests since June 11 killing around 110 civilians.“I regret the latest loss of lives (in Kashmir). I have been calling for an immediate end to violence and urge calm and restraint by all concerned,†Ban said. “That is the position of the United Nations at this time,†he said.This is for the first time that the UN chief has himself made a statement on Kashmir this year.Earlier, on September 22, Ban’s chief spokesman Martin Nesirky quoting the UN Secretary-General had called for an immediate end to violence in Kashmir and appealed for restraint by all parties.“The Secretary-General regrets the latest loss of life in Kashmir. He (Ban) calls for an immediate end to violence and urges calm and restraint by all concerned,†Ban’s chief spokesman had told journalists, adding that Ban was “closely following eventsâ€.The Nesirky’s statement came almost a month after UN spokesman Farhan Haq sent out an email, which said that Ban called on “all concerned to exercise utmost restraint and address problems peacefully.â€Ban went further and called for “rekindling the spirit of the composite dialogue†between India and Pakistan.“He (Ban) encourages both sides to rekindle the spirit of the composite dialogue, which was initiated in 2004 and had made encouraging progress on some important confidence building measures, and to make renewed efforts to address outstanding issues, including on Jammu and Kashmir,†the statement had said.“He underlines the need for patience, perseverance and compromise on all sides,†it added.Following protests by the Indian government, the UN had described it as “media guidance†and not a “statement by the Secretary-Generalâ€.Pertinently, UN has passed 18 resolutions acknowledging the right to self-determination of people of Jammu and Kashmir. The resolutions were passed after India herself took Kashmir as a dispute to the UNO and got it registered on January 1, 1948. The UN mediation process brought the war between India and Pakistan to a close on January 1, 1949.This is not for the first time that UN has expressed concern over the human right issues in Kashmir and asked both the governments of India and Pakistan to discuss a permanent solution to Kashmir. Earlier also UN has made statements on the situation in Kashmir seeking end to the turmoil in the region.United Nations has its military observers group stationed in both parts of Kashmir. The first group of United Nations military observers arrived in the area on 24 January of 1949 to supervise the ceasefire between India and Pakistan in the Kashmir. These observers, under the command of the Military Adviser appointed by the UN Secretary-General, formed the nucleus of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).Following renewed hostilities of 1971, UNMOGIP has remained in the area to observe developments pertaining to the strict observance of the ceasefire of 17 December 1971 and report thereon to the Secretary-General.On September 28 this year Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi while speaking at the UN General Assembly had expressed “complete solidarity†with Kashmiris and offered to engage India in a comprehensive dialogue to find amicable solutions to all issues, including the Kashmir dispute.Qureshi had also “strongly condemned†the “brutality†in Kashmir. “Pakistan views the prevailing situation in the Kashmir with grave concern. The human rights of the Kashmiri people must be respected, and their voices heard to create an enabling environment for a peaceful solution of the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute,†he told the General Assembly.Reacting to Qureshi’s remarks, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna had told the UN that Pakistan was sponsoring terrorism in Kashmir.“Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India, is the target of Pakistan-sponsored militancy and terrorism,†Krishna had said.
