UN seeks security of LoC observers

Published August 13, 2002

NEW YORK, Aug 12: Kashmir media reports on the role of United Nations observers on the India-Pakistan border were “inflammatory” and can harm the safety of personnel in that mission, a UN spokesman warned on Monday.

The local reports carried a number of “groundless and potentially inflammatory accusations” about the role of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan, Fred Eckhard said.

The United Nations reminded the Kashmir media that the UN mission, with 45 unarmed military observers, was sent in 1971 to observe and report on the ceasefire at the Line of Control between India and Pakistan and the boundary between Pakistan and the Jammu and Kashmir region situated on the Indian side.

The United Nations reminded the host countries that they are responsible for the safety of UN personnel.

“We trust that the authorities will ensure that the difficulty and risks faced by these dedicated officers are not exacerbated by such irresponsible and misinformed reports,” Eckhard said.

The UN headquarters in New York did not make available the Kashmiri reports.—dpa

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...