Sharif calls for implementing UN resolutions on Kashmir

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon ahead of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in Manhattan, New York.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raised the Kashmir plebiscite issue with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday and wanted the UN Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) strengthened, Pakistani media reported.
The prime minister urged the UN chief to play a role in defusing tensions between Pakistan and India and help end the violations of Line of Control for promoting peace in the region.
He also called for the implementation of UN Security Council's resolutions on the Kashmir dispute, and holding of a plebiscite to determine the wishes of Kashmiri people.
In a statement, Ban's spokesman said that during their meeting "the secretary-general stressed the necessity for Pakistan and India to continue their peaceful dialogue".
The statement said that they also discussed "the fight against terrorism and violent extremism" and that Ban also asked Pakistan "to continue engaging Afghanistan in order to help stabilise the country".
India insists that the Kashmir dispute is a bilateral issue and opposes any international involvement. Pakistan is of the view that Indian policy of bilateralism has failed as the Kashmir issue remains unresolved even after more than 60 years. Speaking at the UN Summit on sustainable development goals, Sharif focused on development. He said that "development strategies remain first and foremost national undertakings".
While most of the speakers stuck to development themes, a few like Presidents Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, Nicolas Maduro Moros of Venezuela and Rafael Correa made anti-West statements. Sharif will have another opportunity next week during the annual general debate of the General Assembly to raise the Kashmir issue.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Azaz Ahmed Chaudhary has said that India violated ceasefire on Working Boundary and Line of Control more than 400 times so far in 2015.

• Pakistan