UN chief Ban Ki-moon calls for India, Pakistan to resume talks
26 Aug 2014
In the backdrop of India suspending all dialogue with Pakistan, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has asked both countries to resolve their issues peacefully and through dialogue.
"The Secretary-General calls on both sides to solve the issues peacefully and through dialogue," according to a statement given to PTI from the office of Ban's spokesperson in response to questions about the cancellation of the talks and ceasefire violations.
The statement did not respond to a question on whether the UN chief would intervene in the tense situation and encourage the leaders from the two countries to meet.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government cancelled a 25 August meeting scheduled in Islamabad between the foreign secretaries after Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit held talks with Kashmiri separatist leaders.
Also, ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces along the Line of Control and the international border have increased over the last few weeks. There have been 21 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in less than a fortnight and 23 in August.
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley has said India has been responding effectively and strongly to the ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
India has also further strengthened its counter-infiltration grid to tackle any attempt by Pakistan to push in militants amid ceasefire violations.
