New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday rejected anoffer of mediation proposed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres onKashmir, saying the focus instead should be on getting vacated theterritories that are “illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan”.
“India`s position has not changed. Jammu and Kashmir has been, is and willcontinue to be an integral part of India.
The issue that needs to be addressed is that of vacation of the territoriesillegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan.
Further issues, if any, would be discussed bilaterally.
There is no role or scope for third party mediation,” MEA spokespersonRaveesh Kumar said in response to a media query regarding comments made byGuterres in Islamabad.
Read Top Stories
“We hope the UN Secretary-General would emphasise on the imperative forPakistan to take a credible, sustained and irreversible action to put anend to cross-border terrorism against India, which threatens the mostfundamental human right – the right to life, of the people of India,including in J&K,” he added.
The UN chief, who arrived in Pakistan on a four-day visit, addressed apress conference along with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi,wherein he also expressed his “deep concern” over the situation in Jammuand Kashmir and tensions along the Line of Control (LoC).
Guterres also said that it was important for India and Pakistan tode-escalate “militarily and verbally” and exercise “maximum restraint”,amidst tense relationship between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
