India, Pak should de-escalate tension through dialogue: UN

United Nations: The UN has asked India and Pakistan to de-escalate tension through dialogue and respect the ceasefire along the Line of Control, in the wake of the killing of two Indian soldiers during an attack by Pakistani troops.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s spokesperson Martin Nesirky told reporters here that,“the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) is aware that the Pakistani army and Indian army are in contact via the hot line and urges both sides to respect the ceasefire and de-escalate tensions through dialogue.”

He said the UNMOGIP has received an “official complaint” from the Pakistan army regarding the incident on 6 January, in which the Pakistan army said one of its soldier was killed in cross border firing. India has said its troops retaliated after unprovoked shelling by Pakistan destroyed a home.

The observer group “will conduct an investigation as soon as possible in accordance with its mandate,” Nesirky said.

He added that regarding the 8 January incident in which two Indian soldiers were killed, the UN has received no official complaint from Indian or Pakistani military.

“On the January 8 alleged incident, no official complaint has been received from either the Pakistani army or Indian army,” Nesirky said.

About 40 UN military observers in Kashmir monitor a ceasefire that was officially agreed in 1949. Pakistan is currently the President of the UN Security Council and is serving a two-year term. India finished its two-year term on the council last month.

PTI NNNN