By Muhammad Luqman
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has called upon the United Nations (UN) to ‘step in to defuse tensions’ between Pakistan and India following the attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
A suicide attack on a convoy of Indian security personnel in the disputed Kashmir region had killed at least 44 on Thursday last. Indian government and the media blamed Pakistan for the attack that was refuted by Islamabad.
“It is imperative to take steps for de-escalation,” said the foreign minister in a letter to the UN Secretary General António Guterres.
Qureshi added in his letter to the UN chief that “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 foreign minister said 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, Qureshi reiterated.
“For domestic political reasons, India has deliberately ratcheted up its hostile rhetoric against Pakistan,” FM Qureshi said, adding that it has created a tense environment in the region.
“It [India] has also hinted that it may abandon the Indus Waters Treaty. This would be a grievous error,’ the foreign minister stated.
Qureshi maintained that India must be asked to conduct an open and credible investigation on Pulwama incident.
Pakistan’s foreign minister further requested the UN chief to ask the Indians to refrain from further escalation of the situation and to, “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,” FM Qureshi said.
