Ban Ki-moon encourages Indo-Pak dialogue at UN session

Dawn.com Published September 25, 2015

UNITED NATIONS: The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, on Friday encouraged the leaders of Pakistan and India to meet and resolve their outstanding issues through dialogue, according a report on Radio Pakistan.

This was stated by UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric while responding to a question at a UN briefing.

He added that UN’s General Assembly session has always provided an occasion for leaders to talk to each other and sort the issues facing their countries.

Last week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif departed for the United States (US) to attend the 70th Session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The premier will address the UNGA on September 30 besides addressing the plenary meeting of General Assembly for adoption of the post-2015 Development Agenda.

In last year’s session, Prime Minister Sharif drew attention towards climatic change and its affects in Pakistan besides repeating the country’s resolve to fight home grown terror and Pakistan Army’s sacrifices in the global anti-terror war.

Sharif had also laid stress upon Pakistan’s desire to improve relations with its neighbours Afghanistan and rival India.

Tensions between the two countries mounted after national security adviser level talks were called off in August as India refused to discuss Kashmir during the meeting.

Talking at a foreign ministers’ forum earlier this month, Prime Minister’s adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan has “already prepared, evidence of Indian interference and subversive activities across the border and will present a dossier at the United Nations.

Aziz added that the copies of the dossier will also be handed over to Indian authorities.

Earlier in September, Pakistan had urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to “take notice” of the escalating incidents of firing by Indian troops across the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region and along the Working Boundary in which a large number of civilians have been killed and injured.

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Cloud

Sep 25, 2015 08:04pm

It's of no use, as long as declaration is there UN won't impose any restrictions on any one end of the day both has to end up on table...

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Dr Ahmad - Melbourne

Sep 25, 2015 08:08pm

One must appreciate Ban Ki Moon's sense of humour. What is UN doing on this?

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JUSTICE

Sep 25, 2015 08:19pm

Mr Banki Moon, you are wasting time on Kashmir issue. UNO has existing regulations on Kashmir. Why don't you try to solve Kashmiri issue according to UN resolution.?

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Salim Khan

Sep 25, 2015 08:22pm

Another confirmation that UN is not interested and does not want to be involved in the Kashmir talks.

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prasant

Sep 25, 2015 08:23pm

Let both nations free from terrorism & make a conducive environment.The action against mumbai attackers & dawood ibrahim is the need of the hour.Once it is done, we will see progress in composite dialog.

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papuni

Sep 25, 2015 08:25pm

Mr. Ban Ki Moon is you,r responsability to seat whit N Sharif and Modi and use the UN resolution on Kashmir

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Axis

Sep 25, 2015 08:30pm

UN? What is that? And please do not talk about any ban. We Indians don't want any more Bans.

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FAIRVIEW

Sep 25, 2015 08:32pm

Implimenatation of the 1948 UN Resolution on Kashmir will help ease the tension in this region. Take the bold step in this direction Mr. Secretary General.

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Satt

Sep 25, 2015 08:35pm

" The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, on Friday encouraged the leaders of Pakistan and India to meet and resolve their outstanding issues through dialogue, according a report on Radio Pakistan." Did you read "outstanding issue's" and what is the main outstanding issue between India and Pakistan..Kashmir and UN president here is clearly saying solve it bilaterally.Does Pakistan needs more proof,how UN wants to solve the Kashmir.So through the resolution in dustbin and solve it bilaterally and don't harp again and again on obsolete resolution.

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Zak

Sep 25, 2015 08:49pm

Raise kashmir, until every UN member knows the truth of IOK.

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Bahubali

Sep 25, 2015 08:53pm

Its a big victory for Pakistan...Now celebrate...Eid Mubarak.

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Sai

Sep 25, 2015 08:53pm

I am sure that the Hon. Gen Secy came to this conclusion after going through the dossiers and letters provided to him. Let competent persons handle Foreign Relations. Armies are competent in defending a nation, not running it.

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Ghaznavi

Sep 25, 2015 08:54pm

Head of a useless organisation talking to walls. UN is just a tool to oppress developing nations. Pakistan should take lead and quit the UN. Let India be the new member of the oppressor club.

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Sheldon

Sep 25, 2015 08:56pm

@prasant No you wont't...there will always be something else to avoid the talks. India has successfully mastered to avoid talks, its either this excuse or that. Going on and on, buying time to delay the matter to as long as possible.

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M. Asghar

Sep 25, 2015 09:15pm

The UN operators always go around the existing problems in the world instead of facing them squarely as required by the rules of the agency; this means that hardly anything is achieved on the ground.

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Prateek

Sep 25, 2015 09:28pm

Kashmir issue is already decided. Its status quo.

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Sep 25, 2015 09:29pm

In the 9/11 memorial held it was great to see that they had placed a Muslim Imam seated right next to the Pope during the multi religious peace prayer. USA and the Pope Francis both showed their magnanimity and why they are both respected so much in the world

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Atti

Sep 25, 2015 09:54pm

There are many issues to resolve for India Pak nit just kashmir which is its own issue

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Sadhu

Sep 25, 2015 10:05pm

It is clear that UN or world will not involve in Kashmir issue. Only option left is diolouge between two countries.

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Divakar

Sep 25, 2015 10:20pm

@Zak,I think they already know the reality, that is why there is no action.

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Abdul

Sep 25, 2015 10:25pm

oho. Its a great development. Now UN seems to be serious.

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Madan

Sep 25, 2015 11:08pm

Dialogue should be the paramount medium for resolving all knotty problems between India and Pakistan.Dialogue between the prime ministers should be fashioned in such a way that each problem is discussed one problem at a time.Intermingling of all problems has been proved to be ineffective in the past and the problems are staring us in the face as always.If this is done,UN's intervention is not necessary at all.Preparation of dossier of allegations against India is more or less a clerical job,proving their authenticity without a solid physical proof is very difficult for Pakistan.I hope Pakistan Government understands it and is not hungry for a sympathetic response from the world.

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Arslan

Sep 26, 2015 12:01am

Nawaz will again take a soft stance towards India. And get flamed for it back home. Usual.

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Zak

Sep 26, 2015 12:01am

@Divakar there is no reality, occupation is occupation. Ocvupations never last, hence its freedom either by violence or dialogue. UN Sec Gen is saying, resolve it by dialogue otherwise India will lose it by violence with no gain all loss.

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M.Saeed

Sep 26, 2015 12:34am

You cannot talk sense with a senseless. India needs a thorough shake-up upside-down for some of its depleted down senses to return back in the empty cavity. It must see the trend in the world. Anything forced into frustration is bound to spring out with vengeance. Then the things get out of hand.

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Sep 26, 2015 12:56am

@ZAK Pakistan has tried it already in 1965 and 1999 but you know best what was results. you will be welcome again... best of luck.

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Saurabh

Sep 26, 2015 01:41am

@Zak They know the truth - but guess who doesn't? You guessed it right - ours truly you!

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blacksheep

Sep 26, 2015 02:14am

@Zak Have u read the UN resolution?

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Riaz Murtaza

Sep 26, 2015 02:22am

Why not let both India and Pakistan hold a plebiscite in kashmir and solve the long outstanding issue between the two countries.

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vnu

Sep 26, 2015 02:29am

@Zak you are living in the land of occupation. pakistan is the home of indus civilization. only few of the temples and idols have survived but there are still few left to prove the presence of hinduism and budhism there. you yourself can probably find the lineage to that rich history and how the islamic conquerors changed the course. we in india sympathize more with the people of Pakistan since they were the ones who suffered most from the invaders. so all occupation and invasion has a time dimension to it. don't believe if someone says history started sixty years back.

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WaheedNoor

Sep 26, 2015 02:30am

PM Modi met Ban Ki Moon and Mr Moon said nothing about Kashmir. Mr Modi finished talking at UNGA. Not a word about Kashmir. He was talking about better world and elimination of poverty and development.

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Mustafa

Sep 26, 2015 02:35am

Talks would never bring freedom to the Kashmiri people, direct or through a third party.

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Satyameva Jayate

Sep 26, 2015 02:59am

@Ghaznavi - Forget others. Why be oppressed? Ask your leaders to Boycott UN.

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Sep 26, 2015 03:12am

The disputes between India and Pakistan must be resolved in the spirit of 1973 Simla Agreement. UN can only act as a facilitator. Unfortunately, fanatics and bloated armies on both sides, will not let this happen. End of the story!

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Naser

Sep 26, 2015 04:19am

There is no direct reference of him asking for India and Pakistan to speak with each other. It was a general statement by his spokesmen saying nations to talk to each other to resolve the issues.

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pukka ind

Sep 26, 2015 04:35am

@Zak dream on that anything can be achieved through violence. Pakistan needs to focus on its development rather bother about internal issues of other countries

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Sachin

Sep 26, 2015 07:38am

@Zak Kashmir belongs to all Kashmiris. Kashmir does not belong to just a few Kashmiris. If majority Kashmiris had issues with India, then they would not have come out of the house to vote in every election under Indian constitution. Now there will be a minority who will always be thinking of breaking away and faddas no matter where you are. Such a minority exists in Baloch, Afgan, Punjab, India, Iraq, Scotland, Russia, China, USA who want to break away. They can keep on wishing to break away even from own family and neighbors and employer etc. Kahin pe bhi chain aman nahin milega inko. Everywhere dissatisfied.

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david

Sep 26, 2015 08:19am

The only issua remaining is to bring to justice the murderers of thousands of innocennt kashmiri pandits .Ethnic cleansing was the most bbarbric act to happen in kashmir more than eny thing else and this fact is well known toUN.

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andavar

Sep 26, 2015 08:25am

Good input once again by Dawn. On a long term perspective there is no point in discussing anything on Kashmir. Both India & Pakistan are not going to budge on their current stand. Hence, the best way is to draw the line and get along with other pending issues to resolve.

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Suresh

Sep 26, 2015 09:05am

Pakistan obsession with kashmir never ends and it will never develop except terrorism fact is fact just imagine if kashnir was not its issue what would have been paksitan today surely prosperous better than india but sorry to say kashmir has created mOre problem for pak

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Whats in a name

Sep 26, 2015 09:27am

Let's put aside the Kashmir for a while. Last week pak was telling that they will handover proofs to UN. But now they are saying to India. What changed in one week for Pak to come down from its earlier position.

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Ajmal Mehdi

Sep 26, 2015 09:34am

The three major conflicts in the world are the legacy of the British were created in 1947 are Philistine, Kashmir, northern Ireland they must be resolved in order to bring peace on lonely planet , Mr. Ban Ki Moon gets credit for Bringing change in South Korea and North Korea at least trying , I personally believe it's time to reform United Nation to uplift humanity because near future Enviromantal and other healthcare issue are bigger then Stone Age conflicts . Am sorry for American leadership that is not capable to improve things according to what Mr. Obama said about change , more Children of Abrahim are suffering then ever befor .

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V K Das

Sep 26, 2015 10:12am

This means to say that please do not bother us but settle it among yourselves.An indirect snub.

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vcbhutani

Sep 26, 2015 10:22am

Under UN rules, UNSC resolutions on Kashmir are unenforceable. In other words, UN can do nothing about Kashmir. India does not recognize UNMOGIP. Kashmir is before the consciousness of the rest of the world any way. So, there is nothing left to internationalize. Any progress will have to be the result of bilateral efforts. There is no point in raising all kinds of concerns. Once one takes that path, there is no end to things. Any country which complains about human rights violations somewhere has much to answer for in its own treatment of its people. Then, resorting to violence and terror is not the answer to anything. It only heaps suffering on people without pushing matters towards solution. There is no sense in slogans like a thousand year war, or bleeding with a thousand cuts. That's a sword which cuts both ways. Besides, this is a game that two can play. The crux of the matter is that politics is the art of the possible. There is no point in crying for the moon. V.C. Bhutani Delhi

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Salim khan

Sep 26, 2015 10:49am

Everytime we raise kashmir, people go bewildered. Every nation from China, usa to Saudi, UK have told us we cant do anything in this matter.UN says solve it yourself. Still we behave like an illiterate person. We look like idiots infront of world. What part is unclear? Kashmir can be solved only by talks and only when Pakistan and india come together.

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bryan

Sep 26, 2015 12:13pm

@Zak If I were a Pakistani citizen my wish for the leadership would be, yes Kashmir is important but then there is a balance- 10 million Kashmiris vs 200 million Pakistanis. Kashmir serves 2 interests- one a genuine cause the other a vested power political and ego based. The latter prevents many practical solutions. It serves many in political establishment.

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Azmeen

Sep 26, 2015 01:09pm

Ban Ki Moon should try to implement UN resolutions on Kashmir.

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Sep 26, 2015 03:54pm

What UN can do escalating violence in LOC ? Pakistan tells India violates the ceasefire and India tells Pakistan violates. UN listen both sides, and unable to take any action or reply. Mr. Ban Ki Moon asked to resolve the issue bilaterally, it means there is no UN resolution pending with them, as the same became null and void after Shimla agreement.

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Indipendant

Sep 26, 2015 04:38pm

The support to Kashmir has depleted Pakistan thoroughly. People are without proper electricity and suffer without adequate jobs. Its high time to concentrate on improving Pakistan's internal socio-economic conditions. Instead the end result is frustration which leads to violence and wars. We all know that wars have done nothing to better the sufferings of the people of Pakistan.

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fida

Sep 26, 2015 05:50pm

The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, on Friday encouraged the leaders of Pakistan and India to meet and resolve their outstanding issues through dialogue. Can anyone at the UN Secretariat reminds the ignorant man that a Resolution on Kashmir is siting in the closet of the UN and should be used to implement with the full force (if there is any) of the UN.

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point of view

Sep 26, 2015 05:52pm

@Riaz Murtaza, have you read the UN resolution resolution ? If not, please http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/documents/jkunresolution.html Operative part-II A (1,2,3)

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fida

Sep 26, 2015 05:54pm

@prasant All the present problems are the after effect of Kashmir problem. Give the People of Kashmir the freedom to choose there destiny, the after effects will disappear on there own.

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fida

Sep 26, 2015 05:59pm

@Mustafa You are absolutely correct. If the citizens of Kashmir truly wants freedom from India, than they have to unite and wage a war of liberation without any help from Pakistan.

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fida

Sep 26, 2015 06:06pm

@vcbhutani The citizens of Kashmir have only one option left to achieve freedom from Indian occupation and that is to unite and start a war of liberation on there own without asking for help from others.

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Indian

Sep 26, 2015 06:55pm

Pakistan should first focus on the development of its current citizens! !

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Subhan

Sep 28, 2015 08:03pm

India accuses Pakistan of violating the ceasefire and shelling, Pakistan accuses India of doing it. Who’s telling the truth and who’s lying? To settle this question, Pakistan asks for a UN investigation, but the Indians go “No! Don’t bring in the UN because that would internationalize the Kashmir issue and expose our illegal occupation and human rights abuses instead of exposing Pakistan as a sponsor of terrorism there! Just trust us when we say Pakistan is shelling!” Dear Indians, if you have nothing to hide in the Kashmir issue, you should have nothing to fear from internationalize it. And if you want to avoid this whole internationalization headache altogether, then stop firing at us from across the LoC and WB!

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