UN Chief Ban Ki Moon calls for urgent de-escalation of Pakistan-India tensions

As the tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following Indian Army’s surgical strike across the LoC on the intervening night of September 28 and 29, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for urgent de-escalation of tensions between the two countries. He has also called for an end to violence in the region.

In a meeting with the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, Dr Maleeha Lodhi, Ban Ki-moon said he was saddened by the death of two Pakistani soldiers. He also extended condolences to the Government of Pakistan and the family of the deceased.
Conveying his dismay at the cancellation of the SAARC summit, he this could have a good opportunity for dialogue.

UN Secretary General calls for de-escalation of tensions between Pakistan and India; Offers ‘Good Offices’ & conveys condolences on the deaths of two Pakistani soldiers
In a meeting with the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, the Secretary General said he was saddened by the loss of life of two Pakistani soldiers and he extended condolences to the Government of Pakistan and the family of the deceased.

Briefing him about the escalating situation, Ambassador Lodhi said that India has, by its declarations and actions, created conditions that pose an imminent threat to regional and International peace and security. She also told the Secretary General, that while India’s claim of carrying out a surgical strike across the Line of Control was false, India had by its own admission, committed aggression against Pakistan.

She said, India has provoked this crisis to divert international attention away from the indigenous Kashmiri uprising against Indian occupation. It is therefore essential to address the root cause of this crisis – India’s continuing denial of the right of self determination to the Kashmiri people. In this regard, she asked the Secretary general to play a role in bringing an end to the grave human rights violations committed by Indian security forces in Indian occupied Kashmir.

Responding to the detailed briefing, the Secretary General repeated his offer of extending his good offices to both countries, which Pakistan has always welcomed but India has consistently declined.

He regretted the fact that UNMOGIP (United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan) was unable to fully function due to India’s non-cooperation. The UN’s military Mission is only able to operate on the Pakistani controlled side of the LoC as India refuses to accept its functioning on the other side and opposes its expansion.

Nevertheless, Ambassador Lodhi asked the Secretary General to ensure that UNMOGIP is able to report independently about the facts of the situation on the ground to the Security Council.
Ambassador Lodhi told the Secretary General that Pakistan has exercised maximum restraint but would respond forcefully to any acts of aggression and provocation. She added that the responsibility for the escalating crisis rests entirely on India.

The Secretary General also conveyed his dismay at the cancellation of the SAARC summit saying this could have a good opportunity for dialogue.

Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi told the UNSG that the international community, and especially the United Nations, should not ignore this grave threat to international peace and security with possibly catastrophic consequences for the entire region. She urged the Secretary General to intervene boldly and unequivocally by calling on India to halt its aggressive actions and provocations, lest these lead to an even more dangerous situation. She said that the SG is duty bound to do so under the UN Charter.

She added that if India did not heed this call, the UN’s relevant mechanisms, including the Security Council, must be advised of this imminent threat to international peace and security, as required under the UN Charter.

In a meeting with Pakistan’s PR to UN Amb Maleeha Lodhi today, UN SG called 4 urgent de-escalation of tensions btwn India and Pakistan — SpokespersonMOFA (@ForeignOfficePk) September 30, 2016