SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 7: A peace rally was held here to express concern over the deteriorating situation between Pakistan and India and the speakers blamed India’s designs for hegemony in the region for the situation.

They said that permanent peace in South Asia was not possible without resolution of the Kashmir issue.

The rally passed a resolution that urged UN Secretary General Kofi Anan to intervene under Article 99 of the UN Charter to defuse the warlike situation between the two nuclear states. It said that an armed conflict could lead to unforeseen consequences for India and Pakistan.

The speakers reminded the audience that on Jan 5, 1949, the United Nations had passed a resolution calling for a plebiscite in Kashmir. India and Pakistan accepted the resolution but India still has not implemented it, after 53 years.

The marchers were raising slogans and carrying placards calling for peace.

The march was organized by the Pakistani American Congress, Northern California.