Pak wants K-resolution as per UN resolutions: Nawaz

Islamabad, Aug 14: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Wednesday pledged to respond with "restraint and responsibility" to the situation on the LoC, saying there is a need for more diplomacy to achieve peace.  "Pakistan will continue to respond to the situation with restraint and responsibility in the hope that steps would be taken by India to help reduce tensions," Sharif said at a joint news conference with UN chief Ban Ki-moon. He said they have to defuse tension and de-escalate the situation. “Our objective is peace. For that, what we need is more diplomacy”. Tensions between India and Pakistan have spiked due to clashes along the Line of Control since five Indian army men were killed in an attack on August 6. Pakistan today claimed a man was killed and his daughter injured in firing by Indian forces in Rawalakot sector. This was the second civilian death reported from the Pakistani side of the LoC.

Following his talks with the visiting UN chief, Sharif said, "The escalation of tensions along the LoC is a matter of concern for us and the Secretary-General."

He said he would explore all avenues to ease tension with India, start dialogue, address outstanding issues including Jammu and Kashmir, and promote trade and commerce".

Sharif reminded Ban that the Kashmir dispute is the longest outstanding issue on the UN agenda. “Pakistan seeks a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions. We hope that UN will play its due role in resolving the Kashmir dispute," he added.

Sharif said he had raised and discussed the Kashmir issue with UN chief. “It was agreed that both countries need to take steps to de-escalate tensions in the region”.

Source: http://www.risingkashmir.in

US envoys trying to defuse Indo-Pak tensions

Washington, Aug 14:  The US ambassadors in India and Pakistan have reached out to the host governments to encourage dialogue while ruling out any change in its Kashmir policy. "I think we can encourage them to have dialogue and to resolve the dispute. But we don't have to do that necessarily with an envoy. I think our ambassadors are very engaged on the ground on this," State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said in response to a question on whether the US would appoint a special envoy, as in the Middle East peace process, to help India and Pakistan resolve the Kashmir issue. "What that engagement looks like going forward, I don't have a prediction to make for you other than to say, we will continue to encourage both sides to move forward with this dialogue," she said at a press briefing.

She said US is concerned about any violence along the Line of Control. “We understand that the governments of India and Pakistan are in contact over these issues. We will continue to encourage further dialogue”. "Our ambassadors in both India and Pakistan have raised these recent incidents with their respective host governments and conveyed our hope that India and Pakistan will continue the steps they have recently taken to improve their bilateral relationship," Harf said. She said US ambassadors in both India and Pakistan have reached out to their respective governments to convey America’s hope that they will continue to take steps to build trust and to work together. “We of course would encourage any dialogue between the two countries going forward”. “The US policy on Kashmir has not changed. We still believe that the pace, scope, and character of India and Pakistan's dialogue on Kashmir is for those two countries to determine with each other. We'll engage when we think it's appropriate, as our ambassadors are doing,” Harf added

Source: http://www.risingkashmir.in/