United Nations, July 29: In an exceptional move, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has issued a statement voicing concern over the security situation prevailing in Kashmir over the past one month.
“In relation to recent developments in Kashmir, the Secretary General is concerned over the prevailing security situation there over the past month,” Farhan Haq, Ban’s spokesperson, said in the statement.
“He (the UN chief) calls on all concerned to exercise utmost restraint and address problems peacefully,” Haq added.
The Secretary General’s unprecedented statement comes in the backdrop of the relentless protests and violence in the Kashmir valley which led to the death of 17 people and repeated shutdowns, curfews, restrictions and arrests.
Ban went further and called for “rekindling the spirit of the composite dialogue” between India and Pakistan, which India disfavours till Pakistan addresses the terrorism issue.
“He (Ban) encourages both sides to rekindle the spirit of the composite dialogue, which was initiated in 2004 and had made encouraging progress on some important confidence building measures, and to make renewed efforts to address outstanding issues, including on Jammu and Kashmir,” the statement said.
“He underlines the need for patience, perseverance and compromise on all sides,” it added. Pertinently, UN has passed 18 resolutions acknowledging the right to self-determination of people of Jammu and Kashmir. The resolutions were passed after India herself took Kashmir as a dispute to the UNO and got it registered on January 1, 1948. The UN mediation process brought the war between India and Pakistan to a close on January 1, 1949.
This is not for the first time that UN has expressed concern over the human right issues in Kashmir and asked both the governments of India and Pakistan to discuss a permanent solution to Kashmir. Earlier also UN has made statements on the situation in Kashmir seeking end to the turmoil in the region.
United Nations has its military observers group stationed in both parts of Kashmir. The first group of United Nations military observers arrived in the area on 24 January of 1949 to supervise the ceasefire between India and Pakistan in the Kashmir. These observers, under the command of the Military Adviser appointed by the UN Secretary-General, formed the nucleus of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
Following renewed hostilities of 1971, UNMOGIP has remained in the area to observe developments pertaining to the strict observance of the ceasefire of 17 December 1971 and report thereon to the Secretary-General.

UN TO NAME KISHENGANGA UMPIRES
 PTI adds from New Delhi: The Secretary General of the United Nations is among the international personalities who will now decide on the three neutral umpires to settle the dispute between India and Pakistan over the Kishenganga hydro-power project in Jammu and Kashmir.
 Representatives of India and Pakistan, who met here Thursday for a draw of lots, agreed to take the services of the UN chief, Rector, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London and Lord Justice of England to decide on the three umpires, including the chairman.
 Sources in the government told PTI that the two countries will write separately to the three eminent men within the next 20 days seeking their assistance on deciding on the names of the umpires.
 While the Secretary General of the UN will name the Chairman, the Rector of Imperial College will decide on the umpire (engineering). The Lord Justice of England will name the umpire (legal).
As per the provisions of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, once the process of arbitration is initiated by any of the two countries, the three umpires, including the chairman, have to be appointed within 60 days.
 If the two countries fail to appoint umpires, the two parties prepare a draw of lots and request a “person” mentioned in the Treaty to select the umpire.
 India and Pakistan had failed to reach consensus earlier this month on the names of three neutral umpires for the International Court of Arbitration which will decide on resolution of dispute over Kishenganga.
 The two countries have already nominated two legal experts (arbitrators) each to contest their case over the power project being built in Jammu and Kashmir.
 Accusing India of breaching the provisions of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty by diverting the water of the Jhelum tributary for its Kishenganga hydel power project, Pakistan sought international arbitration in May this year after the two countries failed to resolve the issue bilaterally for over two decades.
 Under the provisions of the treaty, the two countries will have to appoint three umpires, including a Chairman, before the court of arbitration is set up to decide on the issue.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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