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India-Pak should persist with efforts to solve issues: Ban

April 27, 2012 20:22 IST

Welcoming the Indo-Pak efforts to improve their bilateral relations, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Friday said the two countries should persist with their efforts to resolve outstanding issues and advocated peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue while respecting the "wills" of people there.

Ban held comprehensive discussions on the issue of counter-terrorism in his meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna during which India raised its concerns over terrorism in the Af-Pak region.

Asserting that terrorism cannot be justified by any reason, the UN chief made a strong pitch for bringing the perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack to book "as soon as possible" and noted that the government of India and Pakistan were making efforts to do so.

"I am pleased with the continued efforts to improve the relations between India and Pakistan. This has a broader significance for the region and for global peace. I realise there are many outstanding issues but I encourage leaders of both the countries to persist with these efforts," Ban said at a press conference.

Asked about the UN position on Kashmir, he said, "I hope this issue is addressed peacefully without violence and respecting wills of the people there." He said it should be resolved "without resorting to any violence and fully respecting the human rights sentiments there.

Noting that the international community has been experiencing and suffering from many terror threats, the UN secretary general said India has also been a victim, particularly during Mumbai terror attacks. "I hope and wish that all perpetrators of this crime, the terrorists, should be brought to justice as soon as possible. I understand that India and Pakistan government have been discussing this matter very seriously as to how this matter could be brought to a close," he said, adding, "for better and improved relationship, this is important."

"Terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances, for any justification and for any reason. It should be eliminated and stopped," Ban said, adding the global body has been making efforts to prevent and fight international terrorism.

India has been pressing for a global terrorism strategy so that designation of terror outfits by the UN should not hit a wall for want of consensus.

"Just because a country or a two does not agree to declare an entity as terror organisation, the global consensus should not be held back," official sources said, adding this was conveyed to the UN secretary general by the leaders.