UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres on Thursday called on two nuclear-powers i.e. India and Pakistan to “come together and seriously discuss their problems” initiating from the unresolved Kashmir dispute, saying his good offices are always available for mediation.
The UN chief warned that there was no “military solution” to the decades-old conflict. “It is clear when seeing Pakistan and India, any military confrontation between the two would be a disaster of unmitigated proportions for both countries and for the whole world,” he warned.
“I do believe that is absolutely essential to have a de-escalation of the situation, namely in the Line of Control” in the disputed Kashmir region, Guterres said, adding, “I think it’s absolutely essential for the two countries to be able to come together and seriously discuss their problems.”
“And,” he added, “I think it’s essential that human rights are fully respected in all territories that you mentioned,” referring to the question in which the correspondent highlighted the continuing rights abuses in the Indian occupied Kashmir.
Moreover, he highlighted that he stood by his statement of Aug. 8, 2019, which urged the resolution of Kashmir dispute based on UN resolutions and the UN Charter.
“Now, things have not moved in the right direction, our good offices are always available, and we will insist within it on finding peaceful solutions for problems that have no military solution.”