NEW YORK: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday expressed hope that India and Pakistan would “engage in a meaningful dialogue”.
The comments were made while the UN chief was addressing the media during a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, US.
Pakistani journalist Iftikhar Ali asked Guterres why “there has been no response” from India despite the fact that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government has made “peace gestures” towards the country.
“As a result, tensions have increased. The situation in Indian controlled Kashmir has deteriorated as a result of human rights abuses,” the Pakistani journalist said.
“I’ve been offering my good offices in relation to the dialogue between the two countries that, until now, had no conditions of success,” Guterres answered.
“The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has produced recently a very detailed report. So, the UN has clearly done its job in that regard.,” he added.
“I hope that the importance of both India and Pakistan is such in international affairs, I hope that the two countries will be able to engage in a meaningful dialogue,” he elaborated.
“We need international cooperation more than ever, but simply saying this will not make it happen. Many people aren’t convinced and we need to understand why – and act on that understanding,” the UN chief later stated on social media.
We need international cooperation more than ever, but simply saying this will not make it happen. Many people aren’t convinced and we need to understand why – and act on that understanding. https://t.co/l3i3tU8WB7
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) January 18, 2019
