UN chief ‘deeply concerned’ about Kashmir situation

Urges Islamabad, New Delhi to work towards sustainable peace

UNITED NATIONS/ ISLAMABAD: Amid India’s continued ‘unprovoked’ bombardment across the Line of Control (LoC), the United Nations chief has voiced deep concern over the worsening situation in Kashmir and urged New Delhi and Islamabad to work towards sustainable peace.

“Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is deeply concerned about the deterioration of the situation along the LoC in recent days,” read a statement issued by his spokesman late Thursday night.



The statement came a day after Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi raised with top UN officials the latest round of Indian attacks along the LoC that led to the martyrdom of several Pakistani troops and civilians.

The UN chief called on all involved to ‘prioritise’ the restoration of calm and stability in order to prevent any further escalation and loss of life. “The Secretary-General trusts that the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan can find common ground and work towards a sustainable peace,” the UN statement said. “The UN stands by the people of the region and supports all efforts to reach durable peace and security,” it added.

A news release issued on Wednesday by the Pakistan Mission to the UN said that during her meeting with Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson and Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary General Edmond Mulet, Ambassador Lodhi also drew their attention to the  Indian troops’ ‘abhorrent act’ of targeting a civilian passenger bus and an ambulance trying to evacuate the injured.



Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Friday briefed the heads of missions of the permanent members of the UN Security Council about the ‘continued unprovoked’ ceasefire violations by Indian occupation forces at the LoC and Working Boundary (WB).

The adviser strongly condemned the reprehensible attack on the civilian bus in the Neelum Valley as well and said the deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas must be investigated.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2016.