UN chief voices concern over the situation in Kashmir

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who begins a three-day official visit to India today, has expressed concern over the situation in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and he encouraged “positive dialogue” for the peaceful settlement of the ongoing dispute.

“I remain concerned by the situation in Jammu and Kashmir – I encourage positive dialogue for disagreements to be resolvedd peacefully,” the secretary-general said in an interview with an Indian journalist in New York.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj were set to meet in New York on Sept. 27 to discuss issues between the neighbours , but India suddenly called off the dialogue, a day after agreeing to a dialogue.

Dialogue between India and Pakistan has been suspended since 2015.

Addressing the 73rd session of the 193-member Assembly, Foreign Minister Qureshi pointed out that the unresolved Kashmir issue poses a great threat to peace and stability in the South Asian region, and he called for a settlement based in UN resolutions. He also said that India must stop human rights violations in the disputed Kashmiri state and also stop ceasefire violations across the Line of Control.

The UN chief will be in India from October 1 to 3 during which he will meet with President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Minister Sushma Swaraj. His visit coincides with the beginning of events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on October 2, 2019.

The UN chief will be in India October 1 to 3 during when he will meet with President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj. His visit coincides with the beginning of events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2, 2019.

On October 3, the UN chief will visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Deputy spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq said Guterres’ visit to the Golden temple will be a personal one.

Last week, when asked if the UN chief comment on the 1984 Sikh riots, Farhan Haq said it was a bit “premature” to outline the topics Guterres will bring up.

Guterres will return to New York on October 4.