Pakistan again raises Kashmir issue in UN

Geneva: Raising the Kashmir issue yet again at the UN, Pakistan dragged the UN Military Observer Group (UNMOGIP) into the current situation along the Line of Control where cross-border shelling has flared up.

"UNMOGIP must be enabled to play its role in monitoring the ceasefire," UN Ambassador Masood Khan told the General Assembly Tuesday.

Ignoring the toll of Indian civilians from Pakistani shelling, he said: "As a result of the Indian firing yesterday, four innocent lives were lost on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. We call upon the Indian government to immediately cease fire and help us preserve tranquility."

At least five Indian civilians have been killed in Pakistani shellings over the last two days. The current round to cross-border firings that began in August resumed Friday after an almost month-long lull. It has been described by Indian officials as the worst cease-fire violations since 2003.

Made up of military personnel from 10 countries, the UNMOGIP monitors the ceasefire along the Line of Control under a UN Security Council mandate.

Pakistan earlier said on Monday that it had lodged a protest with the UNMOGIP over "unprovoked firing" on the Line of Control (LoC) by Indian forces.

Khan's mention of the UNMOGIP comes after India signaled that it considers the group has outlived its utility. This is in line with India's contention that Kashmir issues have to be dealt with solely by New Delhi and Islamabad because the 1972 Simla Agreement called for finding a bilateral solution to the dispute.

In July, India asked the UNMOGIP to vacate the rent-free bungalow it had provided near the Supreme Court. Explaining the rationale for this step, Syed Akbaruddin, external affairs ministry spokesman said that it was "consistent with India's long-standing view that UNMOGIP has outlived its relevance".

Khan Tuesday also invoked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Sep 26 speech to the UNGA raising the Kashmir issue: "The core issue of Jammu and Kashmir has to be resolved though negotiations, in accordance with the wishes of its people. In this regard, he (Sharif) reminded the UN of its own responsibility."