UN, US hail Pakistan-india joint statement on ceasefire
US calls it a positive step towards greater peace and stability in region; UN says Guterres is encouraged by decision to strictly observe all agreements on a ceasefire along the border
The United Nations and the US welcomed Pakistan and India’s decision to maintain a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LOC) in Kashmir.
While the US called it a “positive step” towards greater peace and stability in South Asia, the UN said that Secretary-general Antonio Guterres is encouraged by their decision to strictly observe all agreements on a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LOC) and hopes that the “positive step” would “provide an opportunity for further dialogue.”
White House spokesperson Jen Psaki welcomed the joint statement and urged both countries to keep building upon the progress. A positive step towards greater peace and stability: “United States welcomes the joint statement between India and Pakistan that the two countries have agreed to maintain strict observance of a ceasefire along the Line of Control starting on Feb.25. This is a positive step towards greater peace and stability in South Asia, which is in our shared interest and we encourage both countries to keep building upon this progress,” White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said.
On Thursday, Pakistan and India released a joint statement saying that they have held discussions regarding establishing a mechanism for hotline contact and also agreed to a ceasefire along the LOC starting from Feb.25.
Director Generals of Military Operations of Pakistan and India also reviewed the current situation across the Line of Control (LOC) and other sectors “in a free, frank and cordial atmosphere” and agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns which have the propensity to disturb the peace and lead to violence.
During the meeting, it was also decided that both sides would utilise border flag meetings to deal with any unforeseen situation or address any misunderstanding.
State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that the US has always backed direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on Kashmir and other issues of concern. “We welcome the arrangement that was announced that will go into effect I should say on Feb.25,” he added.
“The Secretary-general is encouraged by the joint statement issued by the militaries of India and Pakistan on their agreement to observing the ceasefire at the Line of Control in Kashmir and engaging through established mechanisms,” UN’S Stephane Dujarric said in statement read out at the regular briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York.
“He (UN chief) hopes that this positive step will provide an opportunity for further dialogue,” the statement said. Replying to a question, the spokesman said that the UN chief has no plans as yet to contact the leaders of India and Pakistan for starting the process to resolve the decades-old Kashmir dispute.
He said the secretary-general’s good offices were always available for any member state who would request it. The UN General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir also welcomed the agreement, which he said “set an example for others and demonstrates the General Assembly’s values.”
The development is seen as a thaw ater years of tensionsbetweenthetwonuclear-armedneighbours.
It also came just days before the second anniversary of the Balakot incident and subsequent retaliationbypakistanthatbroughtthetwocountries on the brink of war.
It is not clear if the latest move will lead to further de-escalation in tensions.
Both Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa recently offered India to resolve all issues through dialogue.
In a separate development, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Defence Minister of Iraq Jumaah Enad Saadoon met on Friday and discussed overall situation in the region.
The two ministers reaffirmed the mutual desire to further promote and solidify existing bilateral relations, the Foreign Office said.
Qureshi welcomed the Iraqi defence minister and underscored the importance accorded by Pakistan to its fraternal ties with Iraq. Minister for Defence Production Zubaida Jalal was also present in the meeting.
Stressing the need for frequent high-level exchanges between the two countries, the foreign minister hoped that the visit of the Iraqi defence minister would help diversify and deepen collaboration between the two countries in the fields of defence and defence production.