Worried over Kashmir; UN urges India, Pak to talk

United Nations, Jul 29: Worried over the unrest in Kashmir, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged both India and Pakistan to "rekindle the spirit of the composite dialogue".

“In relation to recent developments in Indian-administered Kashmir, the Secretary-General is concerned over the prevailing security situation there over the past month," Farhan Haq, Mr Ban"s spokesperson, said in a statement.

Over the last month as many as 17 people have died in the violence that erupted in the valley as civilians clashed against the security forces.

“He calls on all concerned to exercise utmost restraint and address problems peacefully," the statement added.

While the Indian central government blamed the anti-India elements based in Pakistan for instigating violence in Jammu Kashmir, the state government constituted an inquiry commission to look into the deaths of civilians in the protests.

“He (Ban Ki-moon) encourages both sides to rekindle the spirit of the composite dialogue, which was initiated in 2004 and had made encouraging progress on some important confidence building measures, and to make renewed efforts to address outstanding issues, including on Jammu and Kashmir.

“He underlines the need for patience, perseverance and compromise on all sides," the UN chief's spokesperson said.

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