ISLAMABAD, March 7: The UN can become part of a solution to the Kashmir dispute if Pakistan and India both agree, according to UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno.

He was speaking to journalists after a reception hosted by Ambassador of France to Pakistan Régis de Belenet at the conclusion of the two-day international peacekeeping conference here on Wednesday.

“The UN cannot force an agreement. It can help consolidate an agreement, but the foundation has to be there,” he said.

Stressing on the need for peacefully resolving the Iran-US stand-off on nuclear issue, he said: “Efforts must be made to resolve the matter through peaceful means.”

Ruling out the possibility of the UN peacekeeping forces replacing the US-led forces in Iraq, he said the UN could support political process, but could not enforce peace.

Terming peace-keeping a valuable asset he said it only worked in the presence of a political process. He cited the example of tragic lessons learnt from the losses suffered by Pakistan troops in Somalia and said it happened because there was no political process there.

He praised Pakistan for being a key contributor to UN, he said the conference was an important event as it brought together 20 countries engaged in peacekeeping operations. “It is very important to have same vision for peace-keeping,” he said.

He said the forum also served as a confidence-building measure as a senior Indian general also attended the conference. He said he had seen Indian and Pakistani troops working together in Congo peace-keeping operation.

France’s Deputy Chief of Staff for International Affairs Christian Charles Farzone praised Pakistan’s role to check unwanted movement along its border with Afghanistan and said: “The presence of 80,000 troops was a clear manifestation of the fact that it is a very strong effort.”

Referring to the idea of mining and fencing the Afghan border, he said it was an idea on paper, adding that mining was being opposed as it might pose problems for Pakistan too. He did not oppose fencing, but said Pakistan would need to spend huge funds which could better be spent on economic development.

He said the alleged re-grouping of Al Qaeda in North Waziristan had not come under discussion during his meetings with Pakistan authorities.