LoC flare-up: Pakistan will show restraint, Nawaz assures UN chief

PM calls for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tension.

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday sought to defuse tensions with India, saying Pakistan would respond to the ongoing clashes on the Line of Control (LoC) with ‘restraint and responsibility.’

“We have to defuse tensions and de-escalate the situation. Our objective is peace. For that what we need more diplomacy,” Nawaz said at a joint news conference with UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon. The premier added that the flaring up of tensions along the LoC was a matter of concern not only for Pakistan but also for the UN chief.

“Pakistan will continue to respond to the situation with restraint and responsibility with the hope that India will also take steps to help reduce tensions,” he said.

His latest peace overtures came as cross-LoC shelling between the two nuclear armed neighbors persists. Pakistan Army officials said one civilian was killed and a child was injured in ‘unprovoked firing’ by the Indian army in Battal sector across on Wednesday.

The ongoing tensions were triggered by Indian claims that Pakistani forces killed five Indian soldiers in a cross-LoC ambush last week, a charge Islamabad strongly denies. Since then, the two armies have continued to exchange fire threatening efforts to resume peace process between the two neighbors.



Despite Prime Minister Nawaz’s optimistic, his adviser on national security and foreign affairs painted a grim picture of normalisation of ties with India in near future. In an interview with a television channel, Sartaj Aziz said Indian opposition parties appear to pressuring New Delhi against resuming peace talks with Pakistan.

He doesn’t pin much hopes on the likely meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of UN General Assembly session in New York next month.

The peace process is likely to pick up the momentum after the Indian parliamentary elections scheduled for next year, he added, however.

During his meeting with Ban Ki-moon, Premier Nawaz said it was his desire to explore all avenues to ease tensions with India, start dialogue, address outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, and promote trade and commerce

“Pakistan seeks a just and peaceful solution to the dispute in accordance with the UN resolution. We hope that the UN will play its due role in resolving the Kashmir dispute,” he said.

The two leaders also discussed the current Afghan situation with a focus on ensuring peace and stability once the US-led foreign forces withdraw from the country.

Premier Nawaz said Pakistan would provide all possible help to stakeholders in Afghanistan reach a political solution to the 12-year-old conflict.

According a statement issued by the foreign ministry, the prime minister also appreciated the UN secretary general’s statement that the drone strikes should be subject to international law, including international humanitarian law. He reiterated that the drone strikes not only violate Pakistan’s sovereignty but are also counter-productive.

The UN Secretary General also met Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani where the two discussed a host of issues, including Pakistan Army’s role in UN peacekeeping missions. They also discussed the situation in Afghanistan, with Ban highlighting Islamabad’s crucial role in ensuring smooth exit of Nato forces from Afghanistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2013.