Deteriorating security situation resulting from threat of use of force against Pakistan by India: Shah Mehmood Qureshi writes to UN

Following one of the worst terror attacks in Pulwama on 14 February, Pakistan has sought the United Nation’s urgent intervention to “defuse tensions” with India, the country’s Foreign Office said on Tuesday. Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday, seeking his help to reduce the tensions between the two countries, the Pakistan foreign office said. [caption id=“attachment_5597401” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] “It is with a sense of urgency that I draw your attention to the deteriorating security situation in our region resulting from the threat of use of force against Pakistan by India,” Qureshi wrote in the letter. Qureshi, in his letter, said the Pulwama attack on Indian CRPF soldiers was ostensibly and even by Indian accounts carried out by a Kashmiri resident. He said attributing the attack to Pakistan even before investigations was “absurd”. Here is the full text of the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan: “It is with a sense of urgency that I draw your attention to the deteriorating security situation in our region resulting from the threat of use of force against Pakistan by India. The Pulwama attack on Indian Central Reserve Police Force was ostensibly and even by Indian accounts carried out by a Kashmiri resident of Indian Occupied Kashmir. Attributing it to Pakistan even before investigations is absurd. For domestic political reasons, India has deliberately ratcheted up its hostile rhetoric against Pakistan and created a tense environment. It has also hinted that it may abandon the Indus Waters Treaty. This would be a grievous error. It is imperative to take steps for de-escalation. The United Nations must step in to defuse tensions. India must be asked to conduct an open and credible investigation on Pulwama incident. You may also consider asking India to refrain from further escalating the situation and enter into dialogue with Pakistan and the Kashmiris to calm the situation down. I request that this letter be circulated to members of the Security Council and General Assembly.” Islamabad 18-02-2019 The full text has been taken from the official website of the Ministry of External Affairs. It has not been edited for content of style by Firstpost staff.