UNITED NATIONS, Nov 1: Pakistan on Friday welcomed India’s proposal to start a bus service for Kashmiris across the Line of Control and said that given the lack of trust between Pakistan and India, it should be monitored and controlled by the United Nations.

Speaking in the third committee on the agenda “concerning universal realization of the rights of peoples to self-determination”, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram, called the measure a “timely recognition of Kashmiris people’s identity and aspirations”.

He underscored that “the points at which the bus service would cross the LoC in Kashmir should be controlled by the United Nations, perhaps by deploying the UNMOGIP which presently observes the ceasefire along the LoC, for this purpose.”

Mr Akram also expressed the hope that India would give serious consideration to the proposals put forward by President Pervez Musharraf for the resumption of a composite dialogue between the two countries and to take steps to halt the killing in Kashmir and ease tension between the two countries.

“Confidence-building must be accompanied by confidence in New Delhi to engage in a dialogue to resolve outstanding differences,” he added.

Mr Akram decried that “encouraged by the global repulsion against terrorism, India — like all colonial powers — has sought to de-legitimize the Kashmiri freedom struggle as terrorism.”

“It has blamed its failure to suppress the Kashmiri freedom on support to the Kashmiris from Pakistan. It is, however, clear to all but the purblind that the Kashmiris want India out of Kashmir. No outside inspiration could impel them to offer the continued sacrifices of their beloved sons and daughters.

Their noble and heroic struggle, to secure implementation of the resolutions of the Security Council and to resist India’s brutal military occupation cannot be denigrated as terrorism. On the contrary, it is India’s State terrorism which must be denounced,” he added.

Mr Akram pointed out that 55 years since United Nations Security Council called for plebiscite India has refused to allow this plebiscite to take place, ruling occupied Jammu & Kashmir through force and deceit. “

“The Kashmiri people” he stressed “have risen time and again against India’s occupation. Their resistance has been met with brutal repression. The latest Kashmiri struggle for freedom has been under way for over 13 years.”

Mr Akram stressed that “the United Nations has a special responsibility, flowing from the resolutions of the Security Council, to promote a just and peaceful solution for the Jammu & Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the wishes of its people. This holds the key to durable peace and security in South Asia.”

He declared that “Pakistan supports the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination, morally, politically and democratically,” and pointed out “India has sought time and again to threaten and coerce Pakistan into giving up its principled position on Kashmir, as a means of consolidating its colonial hold on Kashmir and establishing its hegemony over all South Asia.”

Speaking about Confidence Building Measures (CBMS) proposed by India and Pakistan, Mr Akram said “while some of the envisaged confidence-building measures can be implemented through “technical talks,” the full realization and further expansion of these CBMS will require sustained discussion and engagement between the two countries.”

“An over-all composite dialogue on the entire range of the agreed Agenda is therefore essential — the sooner the better. Meanwhile, we hope India will halt its repression in Kashmir.

“This will greatly contribute to creating a climate which is conducive to easing tensions, and reviving the composite dialogue for peace and security,” he stressed.