This Article is From Oct 01, 2016

UN Says Did Not Directly Observe Firing Across Line of Control

UN Says Did Not Directly Observe Firing Across Line of Control

UN said Ban-Ki-moon is following the situation along the LoC with "great concern".

New Delhi: The UN mission tasked with monitoring the ceasefire line between India and Pakistan "has not directly observed" any firing across the Line of Control (LoC), UN chief Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson said today.

Stephane Dujarric told reporters that the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan "has not directly observed any firing across the LoC related to the latest incidents.
"They are obviously aware of the reports of these presumed violations and are talking to the relevant concerned authorities," he said.

He said Pakistan's Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi did meet the UN chief earlier today at the request of the envoy but said Ban's office does not give readouts of his meetings with ambassadors of nations.

Mr Dujarric reiterated that the Secretary General is following the situation along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan with "great concern and the increased tensions along the LoC as well as the "escalating rhetoric" between the two countries.

He stressed the UN Chief would welcome any proposals to de-escalate the tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

"The Secretary General urges the government of India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint and address the outstanding issues peacefully and through dialogue. He would welcome all proposals in that regard as well as any de-escalation initiatives," Mr Dujarric said.

He said the UN observer group for India and Pakistan is "aware" of the reports of the "presumed ceasefire violations" and is liaising with the concerned authorities to obtain further information.

"The Secretary General also recalls the role played by UNMOGIP, which is deployed to observe, to the extent possible, developments pertaining to the strict observance of the 1971 ceasefire to report thereon to the Secretary General," he said.

India on Wednesday night carried out surgical strikes on seven terror launch pads across the LoC in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir with the army inflicting "significant casualties" on terrorists preparing to infiltrate from PoK.
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