MEA at odds with UN over Ban’s remarks on Kashmir

Ban’s controversial remarks,which did not go well with New Delhi,had been e-mailed to the media in New York last week by his Pakistani-origin spokesperson Farhan Haq.

Haq’s attention was drawn to the ministry’s statement and he was asked if what he had circulated to journalists reflected Ban’s views.

The spokesperson responded in an e-mail message,”Yes,what I sent last week in response to questions reflects the Secretary-General’s views.”

Asked if the Indian government had protested to the UN,he said “As for what the Indian Government has done,please ask them.”

When told about the contradictory positions between the two sides,sources in the MEA declined to be drawn into further comments on the issue. “Whatever we have to say,we have said in the statement,” said a source.

According to the e-mail by Haq,Ban “is concerned over the prevailing security situation” in “Indian-administered Kashmir”. This was a reference to the turmoil in the Kashmir valley in which a number of lives have been lost.

Haq said the Secretary General called on “all concerned to exercise utmost restraint and address problems peacefully.

“He (Ban) encourages both sides to rekindle the spirit of 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,” it further said.