India turns down Sharif’s peace offer

India on Thursday hit back at Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s address in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) where he proposed de-militarising of the Kashmir region as a peace measure by saying that de-terrorising Pakistan is the answer.

In a series of antagonistic tweets posted on his official Twitter account, Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup also said, “Pakistan’s instability arises from its breeding of terrorists. Blaming neighbors is not a solution.”

Swarup said, “Pakistan is not primary victim of terrorism but of its own policies. It is in fact the prime sponsor of terrorism.”

Referring to Nawaz Sharif’s address, he also said, “Pak PM gets foreign occupation right, occupier wrong. We urge early vacation of Pak occupied Kashmir.

On Wednesday, the prime minister had used his address to the UNGA to propose four peace measures, which include demilitarising of Kashmir and an unconditional withdrawal of troops from the Siachen glacier.

Nawaz Sharif had urged India to formalise and respect the 2003 understanding for a complete ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.

For this purpose, he had called for the expansion in the role of the UN Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to monitor the observance of the ceasefire.

The prime minister had also stated that an easing of threat perceptions through such efforts would make it possible for Pakistan and India to address the peril posed by offensive and advanced weapons systems.

Earlier during the week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on the sidelines of the 70th UNGA Session in New York, where he urged for a plebiscite in Kashmir, stressing on the need for implementation of the United Nation’s Security Council (UNSC) resolution in this regard.

The premier had also raised the issue of tensions between Pakistan and India, including ceasefire violations on the LoC and the Working Boundary.

Ban has expressed concern on tensions between Pakistan and India and offered his good offices for dialogue between the two arch rivals.

The UN chief has also appreciated Pakistan’s active role in the United Nations and its various bodies, particularly in peacekeeping. He lauded Pakistan’s role in the fight against terrorism.

The Himalayan territory of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan by the UN-monitored de facto border of LoC but is claimed in full by both the countries.

Ceasefire violations along the LoC and Working Boundary between Pakistan and India continue intermittently, with casualties reported on both sides.