Former foreign secretary Shamshad Ahmed Khan on Tuesday welcomed the statements of US presidential candidate Barack Obama and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon regarding resolution of the longstanding Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan.
He was commenting on a reported statement of Ban Ki-Moon in which he extended conditional offer to India and Pakistan that if both the countries are willing then the UN is ready to play a role of mediator for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
Talking to a private TV channel, he termed the statement as "welcoming" and said that Chapter-6, Article-33 of the UN Charter empowers the world body to assist member countries in finding solution of their bilateral disputes through various means.
He said, earlier in 50s the UN had been playing a role of mediator between Pakistan and India over the issue of Kashmir, which made significant development. Now, if Ban Ki-Moon is ready to mediate between the two neighbouring countries then it is a good development towards resolution of the issue.
In reply to a question, Shamshad Ahmed Khan said, more significant statement is of Barack Obama that after becoming the president of USA he would be in a good position to play important role in finding out a durable solution to the lingering issue of Kashmir. He said this statement is reflective of the US understanding that there can be no peace in the South Asia region without resolution of Kashmir issue.
Commenting on elections in occupied Kashmir, Shamshad Ahmed Khan said people of Kashmir have totally rejected the holding of sham polls in IHK. "They want their legitimate right of self-determination under resolution of United Nations General Assembly," he added.
He said indigenous movement of Kashmiris for attaining their right to self-determination couldn't be suppressed by using force. Any solution of Kashmir dispute against the wishes of its people would not be accepted, the former foreign secretary mentioned.
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