ISLAMABAD: United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged both New Delhi and Islamabad to take immediate steps to defuse tensions along the border after an attack last week which killed 40 soldiers in Indian-administered Kashmir.
“We are deeply concerned at the increasing tensions between the two countries,” Stephane Dujarric, UN spokesman, said during a media briefing.
According to Dujarric, Guterres said “his good offices are available if accepted by both sides”.
The attack, which took place on February 14, saw a suicide bomber kill more than 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers, leading to conflict and a war of words from both sides of the border.
“It is with a sense of urgency that I draw your attention to the deteriorating security situation in our region resulting from the threat of use of force against Pakistan by India,” excerpts from a letter, written by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to Guterres, read.
The letter, which was sent on Tuesday, added: “It is imperative to take steps for de-escalation. The United Nations must step in to defuse tensions. India must be asked to conduct an open and credible investigation on the Pulwama incident.”
Earlier, on Tuesday, Pakistan offered to cooperate with India in the probe pertaining to the attack. In a televised address, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan asked India to share “actionable evidence” regarding the attack, adding that Islamabad will extend every possible cooperation in the investigation.
UN Chief urges Pakistan and India to defuse tension
UN Chief urges Pakistan and India to defuse tension
- We are deeply concerned with the state of affairs, Guterres says
- It is imperative to work toward de-escalation, FM Qureshi writes in a letter
Pakistan, US discuss boosting anti-narcotics cooperation, pledge stronger ties
- Mohsin Naqvi highlights Pakistan’s ‘zero-tolerance policy,’ says National Narcotics Coordination Center to be set up soon
- ANF operations this year led to seizure of 134 tons of drugs, arrests of over 2,000 suspects, including 75 foreign nationals
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States vowed to strengthen bilateral ties with a special focus on anti-narcotics cooperation during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and acting US ambassador Natalie Baker on Saturday, said an official statement.
The talks covered intelligence sharing, joint efforts to curb drug trafficking and measures to prevent illegal immigration.
Pakistani officials also briefed the meeting on recent operations by the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) and plans to modernize screening and enforcement at airports.
“We are strictly implementing a zero-tolerance policy on narcotics,” Naqvi said, according to the Interior Ministry.
“Airports are being equipped with the most advanced scanning machines, and detecting drug smuggling at every possible stage is our top priority,” he continued, adding that drugs originating from Afghanistan were reaching dozens of countries and “destroying the younger generation.”
Naqvi said Pakistan would welcome US technical assistance for counter-narcotics efforts and confirmed that a National Narcotics Coordination Center would be established soon.
The statement said Baker offered US support for Pakistan’s work to combat narcotics and prevent illegal immigration, saying Washington attached “special importance” to its relationship with Pakistan and would continue cooperation across sectors.
During the meeting, Pakistani officials presented a detailed briefing on ANF operations, noting that under the annual counter-narcotics campaign, 134 tons of drugs had been seized, 2,001 suspects, including 75 foreign national, arrested and narcotics worth $12.797 billion confiscated.
Authorities also reported arresting 110 Afghan nationals in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces, clearing 40,659 acres of poppy cultivation and maintaining poppy-free status in several regions.
Naqvi said Pakistan regarded ties with the US as important for promoting regional peace and stability and remained committed to strengthening long-standing bilateral relations.
The meeting was also attended by the interior secretary, the ANF director general, the director of enforcement and officials from the US embassy.
