Observer Report
United Nations
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres called Thursday on India “to refrain from taking steps that could affect the status of Jammu and Kashmir.” “The Secretary-General has been following the situation in Jammu and Kashmir with concern and makes an appeal for maximum restraint,” his spokesperson said.
India’s Hindu nationalist government stripped the disputed region of its autonomy earlier this week in a move that sent shock waves through South Asia and has seen the restive area come under military lockdown.
Internet and telephone connections in occupied Kashmir had been cut since Monday and a curfew imposed as the authorities feared trouble when the decision was announced.
The statement said that “position of the United Nations on this region is governed by the Charter of the United Nations and applicable Security Council resolutions”.
Guterres recalled the 1972 Simla agreement between India and Pakistan “which states that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir is to be settled by peaceful means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations”.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration rushed through a presidential decree on Monday to ditch the Muslim-majority region’s constitutionally-guaranteed status.
The Indian parliament also passed a law splitting the state into two territories.
Meanwhile, the United Nations had appealed to India and Pakistan some days ago to stay calm amidst rising tension in India-occupied Kashmir. Stephane Dujarric – spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General – said it has been reported by Pakistan and the UN Military Observer Group that the military activities have increased on the Line of Control in recent days.
He urged both countries to exercise restraint so that the tensions do not mount further.