UNITED NATIONS, Sept 25: Pointing to the holding of elections in Kashmir were contrary to the UN Security Council resolution on the conflict, Pakistan on Tuesday asked the UN Secretary General to continue his efforts for a peaceful resolution of the dispute.

At a meeting with the UN chief, Kofi Annan, on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Inamul Haq, drew Annan’s attention to the international and Indian media reports that these elections were marked by coercion and rigging. Despite this voter turnout was low. The second phase saw even lesser voters.

Haq drew attention to the statements from India refusing a dialogue with Pakistan and de-escalation of tensions through reciprocal steps, specially for the withdrawal of forces from the frontlines.

He reiterated Pakistan’s position that only a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute based on the UN Council resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people would be able to bring durable peace and stability in South Asia.