United Nations, June 23: Underlining that the Kashmir issue needs to be resolved peacefully through talks, UN chief Ban-Ki-moon has said that he would discuss with leaders of India and Pakistan on how he can help in the resolution process.
Following his election as Secretary-General of the UN for a second term, Ban indicated he was willing to help India and Pakistan find a solution to the Kashmir issue. “I will have opportunities in the future as in the past. I will discuss the matter with leaders of India and Pakistan, how we can help or how this issue could be resolved peacefully through dialogue,” Ban told a press conference here yesterday.
The secretary-general was specifically asked whether he would take more active interest in his second term in helping to resolve the Kashmir dispute over which the UN has passed several resolutions.
Earlier this year, India and Pakistan agreed to resume their comprehensive dialogue. Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao is in Islamabad for two-day talks with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir, during which the two sides are expected to discuss a number of issues including Kashmir. Ban said he was aware of the ongoing talks on Kashmir and he urged both countries to resolve the issue peacefully. “I am aware of the positions of both India and Pakistan, and India and Pakistan leaders,” Ban said in response to a question from PTI.”I understand there is going to be one (meeting) soon. All these issues should be resolved peacefully through dialogue between the two governments,” he said. Ban also said that the UN Security Council reform, being debated since two decades, is “too long overdue” and the necessary expansion must be made considering how much the world has changed. “It has been too long overdue,” he said.
On Afghanistan, the secretary-general said that there was growing consensus that stability in the war-torn country could not be established through military means only. The UN was supporting the Afghan-led peace process, he said. There was need for dialogue with opposition forces, including the Taliban. The UN was not dealing with the negotiations taking place with the Taliban, but its mission was providing technical support to the Afghan Peace and Reconciliation Council.
Ban took the oath of office Tuesday after his approval by the 192-member General Assembly for a second five-year term.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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