UNITED NATIONS: In a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, US Secretary of State John Kerry has conveyed support for Pakistan’s position that there should be a mechanism for curbing ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Kashmir.

The two leaders met on Sunday evening on the sidelines of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

A US State Department spokesman told reporters that Secretary Kerry had asked Mr Sharif to take action against terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Haqqani network.

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry, while briefing the Pakistani media on the meeting, emphasised the need for enhancing the role of UN peacekeepers for monitoring ceasefire violations along LoC.

“There were 400 violations and 36 deaths this year. This obviously is a major cause of concern for us,” he said.

“But when we talk to India, they say you are doing the violations. We say you are. It’s better to form a mechanism to monitor this.”

Mr Chaudhry noted that the UN Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan was doing this job but the Indians have deactivated this group on their side. He underlined the need to reactivate UNMOGIP.

On the prime minister’s talks with Secretary Kerry, Mr Chaudhry said the United States shared Pakistan’s concern about LoC violations, and acknowledged that “there should be some kind of mechanism for monitoring these violations”.

“They are worried too and said that they do want to play a role. They said they are also in touch with India, do talk to them about the current situation,” he said.

The prime minister expressed deep concern over the LoC and the working boundary while reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to resolve all issues through dialogue, Mr Chaudhry said.

Secretary Kerry also appreciated Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts and the success of its anti-terror operation, Mr Chaudhry said.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said Secretary Kerry commended Mr Sharif’s pledge not to distinguish among terrorist groups and “urged additional action against the Haqqani network and Lashkar-i-Taiba”.

Asked to comment on the US statement, the Pakistani foreign secretary acknowledged that Mr Kerry had raised this issue with the prime minister.

“Pakistan is continuing its efforts against LeT, the Haqqani network and other such groups and the international community appreciates those efforts,” Mr Chaudhry said.

The US spokesman also said that Secretary “acknowledged the crucial role Pakistan has played in Afghan reconciliation talks and noted the importance of dialogue with India for fostering regional stability and economic integration.”

Secretary Kerry also conveyed the grief and sorrow felt in the United States over the recent terrorist attack on PAF cap in Badaber, Mr Chaudhry said.

The United States, he noted, had taken a number of positive steps to enable Pakistan to complete the Dasu and Diamer dam projects.

“The US has a role in our region. On most issues we have shared interests while on some we have differences,” Mr Chaudhry said.

Published in Dawn, September 29th , 2015

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