India: ‘No scope for third party mediation’ from UN on Kashmir

The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s reached out to India, offering mediation on the Kashmir issue. He stated he was “deeply concerned” and had “repeatedly stressed the importance of exercising maximum restraint” while talking about occupied Kashmir and tensions along the Line of Control. The Secretary General made the offer a day earlier in Islamabad, while speaking at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.  India’s stance The Hindu reported on Monday that India has rejected the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s offer of mediation, stating “there is no role or scope for third party mediation”. Guterres also emphasised on the need of de-escalation between India and Pakistan, both militarily and verbally. Guterres offered his role as a mediator and said his “good offices” could be used for this purpose. However, the offer was rejected by India late on Sunday. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar stated, The issue of [Jammu and Kashmir] that needs to be addressed is that of vacation of the territories illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan. Further issues, if any, would be discussed bilaterally. There is no role or scope for third party mediation.” Read more from ProperGaanda: Imran Khan promotes peace in Afghanistan