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| Delhi's stand on Jammu & Kashmir is rational and national | | Pak seeking UN intervention | | Neha
JAMMU, Feb 8: "The United Nations is available to mediate between India and Pakistan if the two neighbours request such assistance in resolving the Kashmir issue," said a spokesperson for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday.
"On Kashmir, (as with other conflicts around the world), our good offices are available if both sides (India and Pakistan) were to request that. And that remains the case today," Acting Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq said at the United Nations while responding to a question "on whether the UN chief would propose to India to sit down and talk with Pakistan to resolve the longstanding Kashmir issue".
"Among the most vital roles played by the secretary-general is the use of his "good offices, which are steps taken publicly and in private, drawing upon his independence, impartiality and integrity, to prevent internationaldisputes from arising, escalating or spreading" was the message that he gave.
Remember, Islamabad has all along sought the UN intervention in Kashmir and has consistently described the UN resolutions on Jammu & Kashmir as an "important framework" for settlement of the so-called Kashmir dispute, notwithstanding the fact that Pakistan subverted these resolutions by not vacating the aggression.
The UN resolution requires Pakistan to vacate the aggression, recognizes India's right to station troops in the areas (POJK and Gilgit-Baltistan) to main law and order and envisages a plebiscite in the entire State of Jammu & Kashmir subject to the condition that there is complete and normalcy in the state, as it existed on August 15, 1947. It is Pakistan that has to fulfill the conditions, and not India, and that everyone knows that Pakistan has not fulfilled any of the conditions. Pakistan has been insisting on a plebiscite in Jammu & Kashmir, describing it as a core issue and nuclear flash point and sees in the UN a credible mediator. It is matter of great satisfaction that Delhi the same day reiterated that Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India and that it doesn't want the UN intervention.
South Block that houses the offices of the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and the Exeternal Affairs Minister stuck to India's stated position that "there is no role for the UN in the Kashmir issue".
Earlier, India had said that the UN Military Observer Group on India and Pakistan should pack up and leave. Its stand has been that there is a democratically elected government in place in the State of Jammu & Kashmir and "it has respected the aspirations of the Kashmiri people through a credible electoral process".
However, what Delhi said on Friday in response to the suggestion of Farhan Haq was not enough. It should have put all things in perspective by calling the Pakistani bluff and making it loud and clear that it shall take all available steps to take back from Pakistan all the illegally occupied territories and integrate them with India as they are legitimately Indian.
Besides, it should have made it abundantly clear that that the only issue that still remains unresolved between India and Pakistan is the political future ofnGilgit-Baltistan and POJK. It is hoped that Delhi would adopt a pro-active foreign policy against Pakistan and other hostile nations, especially China, and also rein in the extremists and separatists in Kashmir. |
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