Sharif again writes to UN for intervention in
Kashmir
In yet another attempt to
internationalise the Kashmir issue, Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif has
written to the UN chief for the second time in a month to intervene by sending
a fact finding mission to probe alleged human rights violations in the Valley.
Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Nafees Zakariya said that
Sharif sent the letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon apprising him of the
deteriorating situation in Kashmir.
Sharif sent the letter in response to UN Secretary General’s
call for making efforts to avoid further violence in Kashmir, he said.
“The Prime Minister mentioned that while ‘Azad Jammu and
Kashmir’ cannot be compared in terms of the grim and tragic situation of human
rights in Kashmir, it remains open to any UN mission for a visit as it has
always facilitated the UNMOGIP, foreign diplomats and tourists,” the FO said.
The letter called Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on
Balochistan and PoK as unwarranted and in complete contravention of the UN
charter.
It said the remarks were aimed at diverting the world attention
from the ongoing atrocities in the Kashmir valley.
Sharif welcomed the UN Secretary General’s offer of his good
offices and said that Kashmir is the main dispute between India and Pakistan.
The spokesperson also said that Pakistan would continue its
efforts to raise the Kashmir dispute at all international levels.
“The Kashmir issue will figure prominently at the upcoming
annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly and the OIC (Organisation
of Islamic Cooperation) meetings on the sidelines of the UN session,” Zakaria
said.
He said Pakistan wants peaceful resolution of the lingering
Kashmir dispute through the dialogue process but rejected any preconditions for
the talks.
Commenting on the just inked US-India defense pact, the
spokesperson said that Pakistan will like to see that such arrangements do not
contribute in polarising the region by disturbing the strategic balance and
escalating the arms buildup in the region.
Talking about secretary of state John Kerry’s statement on
Pakistan’s anti-terror efforts, the spokesperson said Pakistan draws no
distinction in the terrorist groups.
Earlier in August, Sharif had sent letters to UN secretary
general and UN high commissioner for human rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, urging
efforts to end “persistent and egregious violation of basic human rights” of
the Kashmiri people and also to implement UN Security Council resolutions.
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