Salman Khurshid (L), India's Foreign Minister, shakes hands with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon (R) before their meeting September 30, 2013 at UN headquarters in New York. PHOTO: AFP
UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon on Monday welcomed the recent talks between the Pakistani and Indian Prime Ministers in New York on Sunday.
According to a statement released from Moon’s office, the Secretary General noted this following a meeting with the Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid at the UN headquarters in New York.
Moon thanked India for its significant contribution to United Nations peacekeeping operations and its generous assistance to development of Afghan security, economic and human capacities.
The two also discussed developments in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Myanmar, and India’s regional role.
At their much anticipated meeting in New York on Sunday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh pledged to find ways to restore calm on their disputed border in Kashmir as an initial step towards reconciliation.
An Indian official said that the two leaders have decided to task senior military officers to “find effective means to restore the ceasefire” in Kashmir.
“Both agreed that the precondition for forward movement in the relationship, which they both desire, is really an improvement of the situation on the Line of Control,” Indian National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon told reporters.
He said that Premier Nawaz also promised “there would be action” on punishing extremists over the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and said the talks were friendly.
“Both India and Pakistan desire a better relationship. The meeting was useful and provided opportunity for high-level contact,” Menon said. But, he added, “As for how useful and productive the meeting was, I think the only proof will be in the months to come.”
COMMENTS (5)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Pakistani: Like US handled India in 1971, I suppose. Just google Nixon and Indira Gandhi. And something else. During the latest G20 summit, India sided with Russia and not the US. Pray let me know when you stop dreaming!
@Pakistani: "Pakistan need to work on its relationship with US and should improve it ties with US as US can easily handle India"
US wants Hafiz Saeed as badly as India. Handing him over to US will imporve Pakistan's relationship with both US and India.
No mention of 1948 UN resolutions on Kashmir ?
Pakistan need to work on its relationship with US and should improve it ties with US as US can easily handle India