October 6, 2002	Sunday	Rajab 28, 1423

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UNITED NATIONS, Oct 5: Pakistan on Friday called on the UN secretary-general to appoint his special representative on Kashmir dispute as the situation in South Asia remained volatile with one million Indian troops amassed at Pakistan’s borders.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram, told the UN General Assembly, which met to discuss report of the secretary-general on the outcome of the Millennium summit and the Work of the Organization, “South Asia — is once again living up to its characterization as the most dangerous place on earth.”

“India has deployed nearly one million troops on our eastern border. It refuses reciprocal de-escalation; it refuses bilateral dialogue; it refuses third party mediation,” Akram said. The secretary-general’s report states: “In South Asia, an abrupt escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan during the first half of 2002 created great international anxiety. The situation remains volatile, and an outbreak of hostilities between these two countries with nuclear weapon capabilities has the potential to escalate with terrible consequences.”

Akram said that “the path to peace in South Asia is clear. It does not lie in recourse to fraudulent elections in Indian-Occupied Kashmir to replace one puppet by another. It requires: (1) withdrawal of forces from borders; (2) a ceasefire along the LoC; (3) an end to India’s State terrorism in Kashmir and (4) resumption of dialogue.”

In his opening statement at the General Assembly last month, the secretary-general had urged India and Pakistan to address the underlying cause of their differences i.e. Kashmir.

Welcoming the UN chief’s offer of good offices to India and Pakistan, Akram said that Pakistan would be happy to accept the offer adding, “we hope India will do likewise,”

“We would also welcome the appointment by the secretary-general of a special representative on the Kashmir dispute.”

He pointed out that the “recent developments in South Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere have highlighted the continuing reluctance of the United Nations to fully utilize the modalities for the peaceful resolution of disputes, as set out in Chapter, VI of the UN Charter.”

He expressed the hope that “the secretary-general will find it possible to activate these procedures, where necessary without the pre-condition of their open acceptance by all the concerned parties.”

Reflecting on the increased importance of the UN Security Council in peace-keeping and peace building, Pakistan’s chief delegate said: “It is vital to ensure respect for the UN Charter. This includes implementation of UN Security Council resolutions in accordance with Article-25 of the UN Charter.”

Decrying that the secretary-general’s report omitted to mention UN peace mission in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) deployed since 1949 in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir, said that it had played a vital role in moderating the tensions between India and Pakistan.

He said: “Pakistan could welcome a decision by the UN secretary-general to enlarge the UNMOGIP.”

While welcoming positive developments in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN asserted: “We cannot afford to become complacent. Security continues to be under threat in Afghanistan, from a variety of sources, including tribal and regional rivalries,”

“Pakistan continues to believe, and to urge, that the international community should deploy additional forces, especially in the regional centres, as a means of consolidating peace and security in Afghanistan and ensuring that the writ of President Karzai runs over the entire country,” he underscored.