UN Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) briefed over repeated LoC violations by the Indian army, says Jilani. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday expressed concern over the alleged repeated violations at the Line of Control (LoC) by the Indian army and said that in light of any other way to deflate the situation, the issue could be taken up at the United Nations Security Council.
When asked whether Pakistan would take up the issue at the UN Security Council, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani said, "All options are open".
The Foreign Secretary, while addressing a press conference, said that Pakistan had conveyed its concern to the Western diplomats and the UN Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) over repeated LoC violations by the Indian army, urging them to play their role in defusing the tension.
Jilani, who had discussed the issue with the European diplomats earlier in the day, said that the diplomats had expressed their concern over rising tension and wanted peaceful relations between Pakistan and India.
The foreign secretary hoped that the UN group and western diplomats would play a positive role in de-escalating the current situation at the LoC. He added that Pakistani defence authorities had already briefed the UN Military Observers Group about the LoC violations.
Replying to a question about the reaction of US Ambassador, who also attended the briefing at the Foreign Office, the Secretary said like his other colleagues, Olson was also equally concerned about the tension on LoC. He said that the United States wanted the tension to be defused for the sake of regional peace and security.
The Foreign Secretary said that Pakistan had already offered for a probe by the UN as the UNMOGIP was the only neutral mechanism available to both the countries to come out with truth.
Answering a question, the Foreign Secretary said that the repeated LoC violations by the Indian troops and killing of Pakistani troops was very unfortunate, particularly when the two countries had worked hard in recent months in building up peace and stability not only between them but also in the region. He said such incidents not only vitiated atmosphere but also cast shadow over the peace process.
The Foreign Secretary said that similar concerns have also been conveyed to the Indian High Commissioner and he hoped that there would be no recurrence of such violations. He said Pakistan wanted to have friendly and cooperative relations with all neighbours, including India.
"We expect the Indian government to ensure that the sanctity of the LoC is maintained at all costs."
The Foreign Secretary also referred to the propaganda campaignlaunched by the Indian media that one of the two Indian soldiers reportedly killed was beheaded and the body of the other was mutilated and said that even the spokesperson of the Indian Army had rejected such reports.
COMMENTS (33)
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@Sajid Iqbal: India will never let a neutral inquiry happen. Take a look at their commitment to have a referendum in IOK. 6 decades and waiting…
Pakis killed 3 million people in Bangladesh when Is Pakistan going to do a neutral inquiry about that.
British made a treaty with Maharaja Gulab Singh at Amritsar transferring J and K to him for 75 lakh of rupees.
India just want to diverse nations attention from its internal issues which have proved it as badly failed governance.
We have to win Media war
Before going to UNSC never forget it that UNO has already favored and rejoices India by removing Kashmir issue from its charter and has removed Kashmir issue from its charter so UNSC shall never help/support Pakistan in this regard and only you can help yourself to stop India from violating agreed and signed LoC's laws between Pakistan and India.......
@raags:
I am surprised how much illogic exists in the emerging superpower. Perhaps growth and power have taken their toll on the supposedly highly educated Indian "analysts" by making them susceptible to haughtiness and jingoism. In the irrational rage, they do not even read the official statement of the Indian Army. Dread the day when India really becomes a superpower.
Please don’t talk of any third party intervention in the matter. Whether it is UN, US, UK or all weather friends? Read the ‘Shimla Agreement’ carefully.
The ZAB & BB licked dust to get 93000 POWs back from India in 1971. They signed ‘Shimla Agreement’ on behalf of Pakistan. It is not only ZAB & BB but the entire Pak Parliament (elected, selected, appointed whatever you call them) which ratified this agreement. It is well known fact that POWs were not released by India till, despite ZAB & BB pleading for it, the Agreement is not ratified by Pak Parliament. So the entire nation pleaded through their representatives for release of POWs. It was a WAR TREATY with no third party intervention. I hope all understand what does it mean?
The problem is that after such a humiliation and loosing half of its part, our Pak brothers have not learned any lesson? Our brothers across the border are still dreaming of third party intervention. It is also disheartening that Pakistani leadership is unnecessarily paying money for UNMOGIP to show its citizenry that UN has some role to play. India has already discarded their role, though it doesn’t have any objection of their presence in POK.
Read news carefully, yesterday only the UN and US both have categorically stated through press statement that it is a bilateral issue and international community has no role to play. Please also read Indian Official statement which is also referring this WAR AGREEMENT for bilateral negotiation. If UN (third party) intervention is desired by Pakistan then why it has not gone to UNSC? Afterall, it is now UNSC member state?
Indians expect us to believe everything they give us, and take it as truth without going into joint or neutral investigation. truth fears no investigation. The Indians fear because there is no truth to their version of evidence.
@Alamgir: Spot on Bro....What a good way to get electricity free...Next you should also ask for free bollywood Cds, free bollywood shows, an apple for every bullet fired by India...problem solved for cash crunch....and not to miss few locomotives as well
@Sajid Iqbal: : Do you ever have gone through the terms by the UN of plebiscite ? the first and foremost condition is that Pakistan will the vacate so called Azad Kashmir (its army and now its administration) . Demand it first from your government and your Military and then troll.
Wait and watch ... Now that Pakistan has created a window of opportunity for India .... India will take its time and strike on the choicest place she thinks is right of India's choosing ... Pakistanis will not be disappointed ... Inshalla.. !!!
@What:
And just like a neutral investigation on BB assassination has been so successful, even this investigation would be successful. Look who is talking !!
@Rashid: Pakistan should demand free electricity from India as compensation for India's shamelessness and arrogance. India should also treat Pakistan right because it is the big brother. Hindus should remember that Pakistan is an enlightened Islamic state with nuclear bomb (strategic asset).
These indian trolls show how biased and immature their thinking is.
Pakistan should actually pay attention to create electricity ;) we badly need more electricity....
“We expect the Indian government to ensure that the sanctity of the LoC is maintained at all costs.” You bet we shall maintain that sanctity at all costs. Kargil should have made that amply clear to you. In any case we leave the job of violating it to Pakistan and its extended state.
Pakistan would not get the vote of even China at the UN this time.
Who made this guy Foreign Secretary? Last I heard, he fumbled on the MFN status and raised a storm just because he could not communicate properly. It appears all this person wants to do is grandstand.
FO clarifies reports of reservations over India MFN status
Mr. Secretary, please don't do that.
This is what your compatriot call as a cry baby! A chicken! A Yeller belly.
Don't humiliate your brave Pakistani citizens by crying at UN. Instead retaliate. This is what a pure martial race would do. Am I wrong, Pakistanis?
India has consistently said since the 1972 Shimla Agreement that the UN has no role as Pakistan has already accepted the LOC. If Pakistan wants to internationalize their trigger happiness, so be it. Do note times have changed and none of the permanent members of the UNSC will pay heed to Pakistan's claims. . There can be no doubt that the UN investigation is a canard spread my Hina Khar to obfuscate the issue.
"Does UNMOGIP still exists" was the response of India national security advisor response to Times of India.
@What: "Now that it is becoming clear that the violation of LoC began from Indian side it is not surprising India is so vehemently against any neutral investigation "
India has always been against 3rd party involvement in Kashmir. If Pakistan was so commited to truth, it would have invited UN to verify evidence provided by India and US in 26/11, it would have invited UN to determine who allowed safe haven to OBL, it would not have denied US suggestion for joint investigation of Salala nor would it have turned back UN observers who were invited by its own foreign office in Balochistan. Setting a precedent for UN involvement in Kashmir is a longstanding Pakistani foreign policy goal which it is pursuing here also.
If firing shots and causing deaths across LOC is considered violation, then Pakistan was responsible because on 5th Jan it shot Indian civilians which was retaliated on the 6th by India. The reality is however that the firng across LOC is ongoing and does not get escalated the way this issue did. HEre 2 things happened which are unique: 1) Pakistani soldiers crossed LOC and came 600 metres into Indian territory (Indian soldiers have never done this since 2003 when the ceasefire was signed). 2) Pakistani soldiers beheaded one soldier and mutilated the body of another.
Both these actions are unprecented and are the reason for outrage.
Pakistan always denies its role and it takes years to prove Pakistan wrong. This is the case with pushing jihadis in India in 1990s - something that Pakistan denied then but admits to now. Same thing with Kargill where pakistani soldiers were outfitted in tribal clothing and sent to Kargill. Even for 26/11 Pakistan initially denied that the killers were Pakistani pointing to the language they used. Abu Jundal's testimony has made it clear that he was hired to teach Hindi to the killers so that Pakistan could mislead the world and claim that the killers were indians not Pakistani.
Even when UN was involved - as in BEnazir assassination, there have been no follow-ups.
Thus India is right to deny UN involvement. Over a period of tiem, facts will be brought to light here also. India and Pakistan both may have done things to each other. But India does not lie. Pakistan does. Repeatedly.
India will never let a neutral inquiry happen. Take a look at their commitment to have a referendum in IOK. 6 decades and waiting...
There are many options on the table one of them appeal to the United Nations for interfarence , that is best must adopted.
@raags: Interestingly, about a year ago I commented in ET the concept of "idea of Pakistan and idea of India " as expressed in first few points.
The right move.
@raags:
This is a very unbalanced analysis based entirely on assumption and opinions.
"Pakistan’s reason for existence is anti-India" for starters.
This is nothing but a heavily opinionated anti Pakistan hit piece in humble opinion.
It's far from being an analysis as it is from being the best.
Pakistan became the President of UNSC for the month of Jan 2013. LOC action and call for taking the issue to UNSC is nothing but a premeditated plan of Pakistan. Like this is our last chance. However, In the current climate where most regimes are getting changed and global communities lack of goodwill for Pakistan going to UNSC begs a million dollar question: is Pakistan ready to accept a verdict on Kashmir that may go against her? If this happens how long it will take Pakistan Army to vacate the Kashmir? Pakistani elite should read the article in Foreign Policy by Christine Fair where she clearly states that right from 1948 Pakistan’s claim for Kashmir is not valid. http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/11/05/pakistanipowerplay
Now that it is becoming clear that the violation of LoC began from Indian side it is not surprising India is so vehemently against any neutral investigation but kudos to Pakistan, by proposing a neutral investigation they have certainly shown who is speaking the truth.
This is one of the best analysis i read
http://www.firstpost.com/world/we-are-fools-6-things-we-need-to-realise-about-pakistan-581989.html