Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, while raking up the Kashmir issue at UN General Assembly said that the non-resolution of Kashmir conflict reflected the failure of United Nations.
Adressing the assembly, Nawaz Sharif proposed the demilitarisation of Kashmir and unconditional withdrawal of troops from Siachen in his four-point peace initiative.
Nawaz stressed on the restraint from the use or the threat of use of force under any circumstances by both the countries and formalisation of the 2003 border ceasefire as part of the formula to ensure peaceful ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
“Coopearation, not confrontation should define our relatiomship,” he added.
Insisting the consultations with Kashmiris he said that, “ Kashmiris being the integral part of the dispute are to be consulted for the evolution of a peaceful solution.”
Nawaz presented some measures to be implemented to resolve the causes of tension with India.
“That is why I want to use the opportunity today to propose a new peace initiative with India, starting with measures that are the simplest to implement:
“One, we propose that Pakistan and India formalize and respect the 2003 understanding for a complete ceasefire on the Line of Control in Kashmir. For this purpose, we call for UNMOGIP’s expansion to monitor the observance of the ceasefire.
“Two, we propose, that Pakistan and India reaffirm that they will not resort to the use or the threat of use of force under any circumstances. This is a central element of the UN Charter.
“Three, steps be taken to demilitarize Kashmir.
“Four, agree to an unconditional mutual withdrawal from Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battleground,” he said.
However, India rejected, his speech accusing him of ‘distorting reality and portraying a false picture of the challenges in our region.’
First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations said “Seeking to mask its activities as though an outcome of domestic discontent in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir carries no credibility with the world.”
“Pakistan claims to be the victim of terrorism, but in truth it is actually a victim of its own policies of breeding and sponsoring terrorists,” he added.