United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday highlighted escalating tensions in South Asia, an obvious reference to the current India-Pakistan confrontation over New Delhi’s unilateral annexation of occupied Kashmir. He called for dialogue to resolve the crisis in his opening speech at the 74th session of the General Assembly, the Foreign Office said.
“Tensions are elevated in South Asia, where differences need to be addressed through dialogue,” the UN chief told world leaders attending the Assembly’s high-level segment.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also emphasis on a solution through dialogue for the Indian occupied Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India.
In his address at the UN General Assbly session, Erdogan criticised the international community for failing to pay attention to the Kashmir conflict, which, he said, awaits solution for 72 years.
“Despite the resolutions adopted, [India-occupied] Kahsmir is still besieged and eight million people are stuck in Kashmir,” he said.
Whereas, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to mend ties with Pakistan amid a deep row over Kashmir.
During their meeting on the sidelines of the 74th UN General Assembly, Trump “encouraged Prime Minister Modi to improve relations with Pakistan and fulfill his promise to better the lives of the Kashmiri people,” White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement.
The India-occupied region has been facing a clampdown since August 5, when the Indian government nixed Article 370 of the Indian constitution, which conferred a special status on it.
At least eleven thousand people, mostly political leaders, have been detained or arrested by authorities since the Indian government made the move.
