United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed readiness to engage with India and Pakistan in resolving the Kashmir issue if requested by both and asked them to resume talks to reach an agreement that would serve their security interests as well as that of the region.
“As I have stated in the past, if both countries request it, I am ready to engage further to assist in resolving this issue,” the secretary general said.
Reiterating that peace in Jammu and Kashmir can be achieved only through dialogue, Ban called on the two countries to resume discussions and said that an agreement on Kashmir would serve the security interests of both countries as well as that of the region.
“I once again encourage both governments to resume discussions and identify confidence—building measures that will allow them to come to an agreement on Kashmir, which will serve the security interests of both countries as well as of the region,” Ban told an Indian news agency. He said that Kashmiris need to be engaged in the process and their rights must also be respected at all times.
Ban said he as well as other senior officials have been in close contact with authorities from both Pakistan and India in recent weeks, given the tensions between the two countries when violence escalated along the Line of Control in October.
“I am saddened by the loss of lives throughout this conflict, including this fall when civilians were killed and thousands more were displaced. I am convinced that peace and stability in Kashmir can be achieved only through dialogue,” Ban said.
