United Nations: In a departure from
diplomatic norms, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has issued
a statement voicing concern over the security situation in
Kashmir over the past one month.
"In relation to recent developments in Kashmir, the
Secretary General is concerned over the prevailing security
situation there over the past month," Farhan Haq, Ban's
Pakistani-origin spokesperson, said in the statement.
"He (the UN chief) calls on all concerned to exercise
utmost restraint and address problems peacefully," Haq added.
The Secretary General's unprecedented statement comes in
the backdrop of violence in the Kashmir Valley which has led
to the death of 17 people and repeated shutdown at the behest
of separatists.
Ban went further and called for "rekindling the spirit of
the composite dialogue" between India and Pakistan, which
India disfavours till Pakistan addresses the terrorism issue.
"He (Ban) encourages both sides to rekindle the spirit of
the composite dialogue, which was initiated in 2004 and had
made encouraging progress on some important confidence
building measures, and to make renewed efforts to address
outstanding issues, including on Jammu and Kashmir," the
statement said.
"He underlines the need for patience, perseverance and
compromise on all sides," it added.
-PTI
First Published: Friday, July 30, 2010, 00:26