UNITED NATIONS: Expressing serious concern over tensions between Pakistan and India on account of Working Boundary/LoC ceasefire violations, the United States has asked for a monitoring mechanism to determine who is responsible for defiance and aggression. Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary told the media on Monday that the US views had been conveyed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry at the UN Headquarters. Nawaz conveyed his concerns to the United States, regarding the Indian ceasefire violations on the LoC and reiterated Pakistan’s stance that it desires a peaceful resolution of all the outstanding issues through dialogue. The foreign secretary said that the United Nations’ monitoring system, the United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), was in place but India threw the group out of its offices in India. It is for this reason that it would be difficult to verify independently who has defied the ceasefire as both the sides put responsibility of the same on each other. He said that Pakistan had been facilitating the UNMOGIP ever since it was posted in the region. Meanwhile, it has been stated that the prime minister raised the issue of the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary during his meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday evening on the sidelines of the 70th UNGA session in New York. The statement of Pakistan’s Mission to the United Nations said that the prime minister shared his views on relations with India and expressed deep concern over the Indian ceasefire violations on the LoC and the Working Boundary. “The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful resolution of all the outstanding issues through dialogue,” the statement said. Sharing the outcome of the meeting, Acting Representative of the United States for Pakistan and Afghanistan Laurell Miller told the press that the “United States urges both Pakistan and India to engage in a dialogue and to take steps to de-escalate tension on the borders.” She said Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had an “excellent meeting” with US Secretary of State John Kerry where they talked about the whole range of issues on the common agenda. “We look forward to the prime minister’s visit to Washington in October,” she said and added the two sides talked about areas where they can “further advance and deepen the relationship”. Laurell Miller said the two sides also discussed the issues that could be taken up during the forthcoming talks in Washington next month. To a question about the warming India-US ties and the heavy cost Pakistan was paying against terrorism, Miller said the United States recognises Pakistan’s sacrifices. “Secretary Kerry specifically said that he recognises the significant efforts that Pakistan has made against terrorism.” She said the United States also recognises the sacrifices made by the Pakistani people and its security forces in fighting terrorism. She said the United States was cooperating with Pakistan against terrorism and would continue to do so. In response to a question about the ongoing reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan, Miller said her government “absolutely and strongly” supports the peace process in Afghanistan. “We appreciate the efforts Pakistan government has taken to that end. I think there is more that we can all do, obviously to launch a peace process and we are 100 percent behind all such efforts to launch the peace process.” The statement by the Pakistan Mission said Secretary Kerry conveyed that President Obama looked forward to the visit of Nawaz to Washington in October. The prime minister and Secretary Kerry discussed the bilateral cooperation on a wide range of issues. Prime Minister Sharif highlighted the military achievements against the militants in Fata through the Operation Zarb-e-Azb, which was now entering its concluding phase. “These successes have improved the security situation in Pakistan,” he said. Secretary Kerry appreciated Pakistan’s counter terrorism efforts and the success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. He also expressed condolences over the terrorist attack on Badaber. Peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan, as well as the security situation, were also discussed, the statement said. The prime minister was assisted by Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative for the UN Ambassador Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Special Assistant the PM (SAPM) for Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi, Additional Secretary to the PM Fawad Hasan Fawad and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary as well as other senior officials.
