ISLAMABAD: Denouncing the United Nations’ reaction to the ongoing situation in Kashmir, Sardar Masood Khan, President of Azad Kashmir on Monday termed the global body’s response as “deeply disappointing, lukewarm and laidback.”

“They (United Nations) are trying to create an artificial balance between India and Pakistan. They are asking India and Pakistan for restraint. What kind of restraint are they expecting from Pakistan? Pakistan has already said that it is not going to go to war. All the aggressive steps are being taken by India, so the UN should have rightly asked India to show restraint, responsibility and should have counselled it to reverse the steps it has announced,” Khan said during his exclusive interview with Arab News.

He added that in this dark hour “when the people of Indian-administered Kashmir are suffering, their eyes are turned toward the Islamic countries and the Arab world.”

“The Arab world, particularly Saudi Arabia and allies, is the torchbearer of the unity of the Muslim Ummah. No Muslim anywhere in the world should suffer unjustly as it is happening in Indian occupied territory,” he said, requesting Arab countries to support Kashmir in this difficult period by building “pressure against India’s unlawful and illegal steps.”

He further chided the leaders of other countries for not putting pressure on India “due to their strategic, economic and political interests.”

“India has deluded the world powers, particularly the western countries, that they are a force for good and have respect for diversity. This is all a facade, I would say. The reality is, India is pursuing aggression and it is committing violent crimes, crimes against humanity and the world is not holding India accountable.”