Nawaz to raise Kashmir issue at UN, says FO

Premier to inform forum about India’s reluctance to resume peace talks

ISLAMABAD:

Foreign Office on Thursday indicated that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will raise the issue of longstanding Kashmir dispute and India’s reluctance to resume dialogue at the upcoming UN General Assembly session.

Premier Nawaz is expected to travel to New York next month for the annual session of the UN General Assembly.

Speaking at a weekly briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said the PM’s speeches at the UN always contained reference to Kashmir as an outstanding issue and stress on the need for finding its final settlement through peaceful means.

“I wish to reiterate that we would keep the UN informed about all issues of concern to Pakistan,” he replied when asked whether Pakistan was planning to raise at the UN the alleged involvement of India in subversive activities.

Qazi added that Pakistan’s Permanent Representative in New York already briefed senior UN officials about the circumstances under which it was not possible to hold the meeting of the NSAs of Pakistan and India.



The NSA talks were called off at the eleventh hour after the two sides refused to budge from their respective positions on the agenda of the meeting as well as Pakistan’s invitation to the Hurriyat leaders.

The spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan will not accept any preconditions for talks with India.

In replying to another question, Qazi said there was no proposal under consideration at this stage regarding the meeting between the prime ministers of Pakistan
and India on the side lines of the UNGA session next month in New York.

Threat to Pakistan Embassy in Kabul

Reacting to reports that Pakistani diplomatic staff in Kabul limited their movements due to threats, the spokesperson said Islamabad has conveyed concerns to relevant authorities in Afghanistan.

“From time to time, we have been expressing our concerns at the allegations levelled by Afghan government officials against Pakistan and anti-Pakistan campaign by the Afghan media,” he added.

He said against this backdrop, security of Pakistan Embassy personnel and premises in Afghanistan had become a matter of top priority for the government of Pakistan.

“Accordingly, we have conveyed our concerns to the relevant authorities in Afghanistan. In response, we have been assured that all possible measures will be taken to ensure the security of our personnel and premises in Afghanistan,” Qazi informed reporters.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2015.