Sharif again writes to UN for intervention in Kashmir

From Sajjad Hussain Islamabad, Sep 1 (PTI) In yet another attempt tointernationalise the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime MinisterNawaz Sharif has written to the UN chief for the second timein a month to intervene by sending a fact finding mission toprobe alleged human rights violations in the Valley. Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Nafees Zakariya said thatSharif sent the letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moonapprising him of the deteriorating situation in Kashmir. Sharif sent the letter in response to UN SecretaryGeneral’s call for making efforts to avoid further violence inKashmir, he said. "The Prime Minister mentioned that while ‘Azad Jammu andKashmir’ cannot be compared in terms of the grim and tragicsituation of human rights in Kashmir, it remains open to anyUN mission for a visit as it has always facilitated theUNMOGIP, foreign diplomats and tourists," the FO said. The letter called Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarkson Balochistan and PoK as unwarranted and in completecontravention of the UN charter. It said the remarks were aimed at diverting the worldattention from the ongoing atrocities in the Kashmir valley. Sharif welcomed the UN Secretary General’s offer of hisgood offices and said that Kashmir is the main dispute betweenIndia and Pakistan. The spokesperson also said that Pakistan would continueits efforts to raise the Kashmir dispute at all internationallevels. "The Kashmir issue will figure prominently at the upcomingannual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly and theOIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) meetings on thesidelines of the UN session," Zakaria said. He said Pakistan wants peaceful resolution of thelingering Kashmir dispute through the dialogue process butrejected any preconditions for the talks. Commenting on the just inked US-India defense pact, thespokesperson said that Pakistan will like to see that sucharrangements do not contribute in polarising the region bydisturbing the strategic balance and escalating the armsbuildup in the region. Talking about Secretary of State John Kerry’s statement onPakistan’s anti-terror efforts, the spokesperson said Pakistandraws no distinction in the terrorist groups. Earlier in August, Sharif had sent letters to UN secretarygeneral and UN high commissioner for human rights Zeid Ra’adAl Hussein, urging efforts to end "persistent and egregiousviolation of basic human rights" of the Kashmiri people andalso to implement UN Security Council resolutions.PTI SH SUA AKJSUA