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Escalating violence: UNSG urges Pakistan, India to resolve issues via dialogue

Ban Ki-moon welcomes NSA level meetings between the two countries, urges them to show restraint

Web Desk August 18, 2015

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. PHOTO: UN

NEW YORK: The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday expressed serious concerns over the recent escalation of violence along the Line of Control between Pakistan and India, calling on both the governments to exercise restraint and resolving issues through dialogue.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, Moon noted that the violence which had reportedly resulted in a number of casualties on both sides, including civilians. He conveyed his condolences to the families of those who had lost their lives.

“The Secretary-General calls upon the governments of India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint and take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of civilians,” the statement read.

He urged both countries to continue to address their differences through dialogue, rather than the gun.

In this regard, he welcomed the planned meeting between the National Security Advisors of the nuclear-tipped neighbours scheduled to be held in New Delhi on August 23-24,

“[He] expresses the hope that it will lead to positive outcomes.”

COMMENTS (6)

Wajahat Khan | 8 years ago | Reply What happened in Modi’s one year? He instead of focusing on his economic agenda, followed a narrow vision of nationalist thinking that pushed him towards geopolitics and major power politics. His foreign policy remained hostage by domestic politics that led India towards adventurism. The cancellation of foreign secretary talks with Pakistan and violation of LoC were clear examples of this attitude. Modi and his team became impulsive and unpredictable.

Tania Talha | 8 years ago | Reply United Nations has many times reiterated that Pakistan and India should resolve issues through dialogues. This is the same which Pakistan is indicating that it is only through diplomacy, issues can be settled not with the use of force. India has to change its expansionist and hostile policy against Pakistan. Both the countries love under shadows of nukes so use of force is highly unavoidable. There is a series of violations of LoC and working boundary by the Indian side which Pakistan strongly condemned. In fact, there are seventy times violations of LoC in two months which openly indicated Indian hostility towards Pakistan. It is the highest point of diplomatic talks which should be restored between the two nuclear weapon countries.