Pakistan raises issue of Indian ceasefire violations with UN Secretary General

NEW YORK (Staff Report) - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday raised the issue of Indian ceasefire violations along Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, urging him to press India to respect ceasefire treaty of 2003.

During a meeting at UN Headquarters the premier told Ban Ki-Moon that Indian aggression against Pakistan is a serious threat to the peace of South Asian region. Pakistan have been responding to Indian behavior with patience but it must considered as its weakness, he said.

He urged Mr Ban Ki-Moon to play his role in ending unprovoked ceasefire violations by India.

The Prime Minister also called for plebiscite for resolution of the longstanding issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

The UN Secretary General expressed his serious concerns over the situation along LoC and stressed both Pakistan and India to respect the sovereignty of each other. He urged them to follow the process of composite dialogue to resolve all outstanding issue.

Ban Ki-Moon also appreciated the role of Pakistan in fight against terrorism and United Nations Peacekeeping Force.

Pakistan is a responsible and peaceful country and its role in improvement of the world cannot be ignored, he declared.

Prior to the meeting the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed a session of Global Leaders Meeting on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment. Pakistan is providing greater opportunities to women in all fields of life and it is determined to ensure more central role for women in political and economic spheres, he said.

The premier will be addressing the 70th session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on 30th September.

In his speech the prime minister will highlight the sacrifices made by Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, Kashmir issue, Indian interference in Pakistan and other issues of Middle East. He will urge the world leaders to press Indian government to restore composite dialogue with Pakistan.

He is also scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 28.

The prime minister will chair a peace summit co-hosted by Pakistan, United States and the UN Secretary General. The summit will be followed by two separate receptions hosted by the UN Secretary General and the US President in honour of heads of states.

Earlier on Saturday PM Nawaz Sharif met Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and World IT leader Bill Gates on the sidelines of General Assembly session.

The premier also addressed the plenary meeting of General Assembly for adoption of the post-2015 Development Agenda.

Pakistan’s first lady Kalsoom Nawaz, National Security Adviser to Prime Minister Sartaj Aziz and Minister of State for Information Technology Anusha Rehman are also accompanying the Prime Minister.