ISLAMABAD: Drawing attention of the United Nations to the deteriorating security situation along the Kashmir Line of Control and Working Boundary due to “deliberate and unprovoked” cross-border firing by Indian forces over the past weeks, Pakistan has asked the world body to strengthen the role of its observers in the region.

The Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, through a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, highlighted the losses Pakistan had suffered as a result of shelling and firing by Indian troops and reminded him of the Security Council resolutions on the Kashmir dispute.

“I write to bring to your urgent attention the deteriorating security situation along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as along the Working Boundary between Pakistan and India, owing to deliberate and unprovoked violations of the ceasefire agreement and cross-border firing by the Indian forces over the past weeks,” Mr Aziz said in the letter whose text was released to the media by the Foreign Office on Sunday.

Aziz’s letter reminds Ban Ki-moon of UNSC resolutions on Kashmir

He informed the secretary general that India had escalated the situation along the LoC and the Working Boundary and “persistent shelling and firing by Indian forces has resulted in heavy civilian casualties on the Pakistan side”.

“During the period 1-10 October, 2014, 20 ceasefire violations along the LoC and 22 violations along the Working Boundary were reported, resulting in 12 civilian casualties, 52 injured civilians and nine injured military personnel on the Pakistani side,” he said.

“From June to August 2014, there were 99 ceasefire violations along the LoC and 32 along the Working Boundary. In all, during 2014, 174 ceasefire violations along the LoC and 60 along the Working Boundary have been reported.”

While exercising its right of self-defence, “Pakistan has exercised utmost restraint and responsibility in responding to these provocations,” he said.

“The government of Pakistan sincerely hopes that better sense would prevail on the Indian side to prevent the situation from spiralling out of control,” the letter said.

Giving the background of the Kashmir dispute, Mr Aziz reminded the UN and the international community of their commitment to resolve the decades-old issue through a plebiscite in the disputed territory as envisaged in the UNSC resolutions.

“As you are aware, the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is one of the long outstanding issues on the agenda of the UNSC, whose resolutions promising the holding of a plebiscite, under the auspices of the UN, for self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, remain valid though unimplemented to date.”

For decades, the adviser writes, “Pakistan has been reminding the UN and the international community to fulfil that promise in the interest of durable peace and security in the region.”

He also mentioned the Sept 26 address of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the UN General Assembly in which he had emphasised that the core issue of Kashmir needed to be resolved.

“This is the responsibility of the international community. We cannot draw a veil on the issue of Kashmir, until it is addressed in accordance with the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The prime minister had also reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to work for resolution of this issue through negotiations.”

Mr Aziz reminded the UN secretary general that the prime minister during a meeting with him last month had underlined the need to implement the UNSC resolutions on Kashmir, and had also stressed the need to resolve the core issues between the two countries.

“Unfortunately, India has adopted a policy that runs counter to its stated desire to engage in a serious bilateral dialogue with Pakistan. India cancelled unilaterally and without any plausible justification the foreign secretary level talks that were scheduled to be held on 25 August 2014,” he told the UN secretary general.

He said Pakistan appreciated Mr Moon’s Oct 9 statement in which he had expressed concern over the recent escalation of violence along the LoC and had “deplored” the loss of lives and the displacement of civilians on both sides.

“You have also encouraged the governments of India and Pakistan to resolve all differences through dialogue.

“Your statement is timely and significant given the historic role and responsibility of the UN towards the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, where the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) also continues to carry out its mandate related to the strict observance of the ceasefire. Incidentally, as I write, UNMOGIP personnel are being escorted to areas along the LoC, to observe first-hand the ongoing ceasefire violations by the Indian side.”

He reiterated that Pakistan remained committed to peaceful resolution of all issues with India, including the core issue of Kashmir, which was in the best interest of both the countries and the region.

“Pakistan believes that the UN has an important role to play in promoting this objective, including through your good offices, which we have always welcomed, and the crucial role of the UNMOGIP on ground, which needs to be strengthened and facilitated under the current circumstances,” he said.

The adviser also requested the secretary general to circulate the letter as an official document of the Security Council.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2014