UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called for urgent de-escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan and an end to violence in the region.

During a meeting with Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN Maleeha Lodhi, the secretary general reiterated his offer of extending his good offices to both the countries, which Pakistan had always welcomed, a press release by the Pakistan UN mission said.

India has refused to accept the UN chief’s offer.

Briefing the UN chief on the escalating situation, Ambassador Lodhi said India had, by its declarations and actions, created conditions that posed a threat to regional and international peace and security. She also told the secretary general that while India’s claim of carrying out a surgical strike across the Line of Control was false, India had, by its own admission, committed aggression against Pakistan.

“The secretary general said he was saddened by the loss of life of two Pakistani soldiers and extended condolences to the government of Pakistan and the family of the deceased,” the press release said.

Ms Lodhi told the UN chief: “India has provoked this crisis to divert international attention away from the indigenous Kashmiri uprising against Indian occupation. It is, therefore, essential to address the root cause of this crisis – India’s continuing denial of the right of self-determination to the Kashmiri people.” She asked the secretary general to play a role in bringing an end to the grave human rights.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2016