UNITED NATIONS, Oct 6 Regretting the loss of life in Indian-occupied Kashmir since June of this year, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon explained on Wednesday his limitations in resolving the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN 1948 resolution.

When asked to use his good offices in resolving the issue of Kashmir where scores of people have been killed in a so-called “Silent Intifada”, Mr Ban said “I can only offer good offices when both sides (India, Pakistan) ask for my” help.

Pakistan on its part has always welcomed UN involvement in the decades-old Kashmir dispute, but India resists any third party intervention on the plea that it is an “internal matter”.

Mr Ban reiterated his call for an immediate end to violence and regretted the latest loss of life in held Kashmir. More than 110 Kashmiris have been killed by Indian security forces as large parts of the disputed state remain under curfew.

Since 1989, an armed uprising and an ensuing crackdown by Indian security forces have killed at least 68,000 people in the disputed Himalayan region.