Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif 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 resolution in this regard.The premier also raised the issue of tensions between Pakistan and India, including ceasefire violations on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary.Nawaz Sharif urged the UN chief to play a role in putting to halt ceasefire violations along the LoC. He also called for the strengthening of United Nations Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). Pakistan’s two-pronged policy so far has not produced any tangible results. In his talks with Nawaz Sharif Ban Ki-moon made it clear that the Kashmir issue as well as the tensions on the LoC can better be dealt with bilaterally through peaceful dialogue. A more realistic FO has however recorded a valid objection by writing to the Security Council against a perceived move by India to construct a wall along the LoC. Sartaj Aziz had declared that he was taking the proofs of India’s support for terrorism in Pakistan with him to the UN. So far there has been no word regarding Pakistan putting the evidence before its allies. Senator John Kerry instead indirectly put the blame on Pakistan for not doing enough to control the terrorists. While the IS, he said, was the primary source of worry, there were other equally lethal outfits like the LeT. India has to realise that it cannot pressurise Pakistan into ignoring the Kashmir issue. India, therefore, has to agree to discuss it if it does not want Pakistan to internationalise the issue. Pakistan, on the other hand, needs to realise that improved Pak-India relations alone can help create an environment required to resolve the Kashmir issue and make the border peaceful. The best policy is to start from taking up the easier issues like enhancement of trade and people to people contacts and move on to the more complex ones, with Kashmir which is the knottiest of all coming at the end.
pk.shafaqna.com
