ISLAMABAD – The United States has promised to help defuse Pak-India tensionas Islamabad and Washington work as a team for peace talks with the AfghanTaliban, officials said.
Senior officials at the foreign ministry told The Nation that Islamabad hadbeen pushing Washington to press India for peace with Pakistan. Oneofficial said: “Washington has promised to help. They will use theirinfluence (in India) to bring India to the talks table and stop bloodshedin Kashmir.”
Another official said the US was happy with Pakistan’s help forWashington’s direct talks with the Afghan Taliban and “we have told them wealso need peace on the eastern border (with India).” He added: “The US hasasked us (Pakistan) to continue work on Afghan Taliban while they (the US)use their good offices to tame India.”
This week, Prime Minister Imran Khan telephoned United Nations SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres urging him to take notice of grave human rightsviolations in occupied Kashmir. “The Prime Minister also underscored UN’srole to end human rights violations being perpetrated by occupied Indianforces against Kashmiris,” said an official statement.
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Earlier, president’s rule was imposed in the held Kashmir after IndianPresident Ram Nath Kovind’s approval. After six months of Governor’s Rulewhich expired on December 19, 2018, the occupied valley will now be underPresident’s Rule. The President’s rule was first imposed in the state in1986, whereas the previous instance of President rule was 22 years ago.
