NEW YORK: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would raise the Kashmir issue in his address to the UN General Assembly, the Pakistan government said while ruling out resumption of any dialogue with India unless the initiative in this regard is taken by New Delhi.
Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Ajaz Ahmad Chaudhry told reporters here there is “no reason” for Sharif not to raise the issue of Kashmir during his address to the annual session of United Nations General Assembly this afternoon.
Chaudhry, who is accompanying Sharif, said that Pakistan believes that a plebiscite is still a solution to Kashmir.
He said that the onus for resumption of any kind of interaction is with India, which he said, had earlier called off the bilateral talks at the level of foreign secretaries.
“It is India which cancelled the talks. It’s for them (India) to take the initiative for any interaction (between the two countries),” Chaudhry said.
If India takes the initiative for talks, Pakistan would consider it, he said in response to a question.
Earlier Prime Minister Sharif met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and urged him to take steps for the peaceful settlement of Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of UN Security Council.
In a meeting with Ban Ki-moon here on the sidelines of 69th UN General Assembly session, the Prime Minister pointed out that Kashmir was one of the long-standing conflicts on the agenda of Security Council.
INDIA TO RESPOND
Amid moves by Pakistan to raise the Kashmir issue at the UNGA session, India is likely to exercise its right to reply on the matter.
Last year too, Sharif had raised the issue while addressing the UNGA saying that the UN must remain “attentive” to the protracted issue as also the “full realisation” of the right to self determination of the Kashmiri people.
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