GENEVA: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on nuclear-armed India and Pakistan to come together and seriously discuss their problems, cautioning that any military confrontation would be a disaster of unmitigated proportions for both countries and the world.
“I do believe that it is absolutely essential to have a de-escalation of the situation, namely in the Line of [Control],” the UN chief said, while responding to a question from a Pakistani journalist at his first press conference.
The UN chief warned that there was no “military solution” to the decades-old conflict. “I think it’s absolutely essential for the two countries to be able to come together and seriously discuss their problems,” he added.
Responding to a question about the continuing human rights abuses in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IOK), the UN chief said, “I think it’s essential that human rights are fully respected in all territories that you mentioned.”
Guterres said he stood by his statement of August 8, 2019, which called for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute based on UN resolutions and the UN Charter. “Now, things have not moved in the right direction, our good offices are always available, and we will insist within them on finding peaceful solutions for problems,” he added.
This is not the first time Guterres insisted on a resolution to the dispute based on the UN Charter and resolutions. He stressed the same during his four-day visit to Pakistan last year. “We have taken position about the need for Security Council’s resolutions to be implemented for effective de-escalation,” he had said.
“Another important aspect, which needs full respect of human rights and continental freedom in Jammu & Kashmir, is that people should have free movement as they have in Pakistan’s side. I hope this will also be achieved on the other side India,” he said at the time.
