Islamabad: Outgoing UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday met Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during which both raised the Jammu and Kashmir rhetoric and the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) by India.
Munir raises Kashmir and IWT issue with UN Chief
Guterres met Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the army said in a statement. "During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, the prevailing regional security environment and the United Nations' role in promoting international peace and security were discussed," the army said. "The two sides exchanged views on regional stability, the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, India's abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty and terrorism emanating from Afghanistan," it added.
India put the IWT in abeyance as part of a series of punitive diplomatic and economic measures unveiled soon after last year's Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. New Delhi maintains that the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh were, are and will always remain "integral and inalienable" parts of India.
During his meeting with Guterres, Munir reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to international peace and highlighted its contributions to UN peacekeeping missions. However, it was not clear whether the Afghanistan issue came up during the conversation or not, as the UN chief had raised the issue of Afghan refugees during a joint presser with Pakistan foreign minister Ishaq Dar. Earlier on Tuesday, Guterres, in a bizarre praise for Pakistan, called the country a source of solidarity and solutions." His comment came in the midst of Pakistan’s military’s regular bombings in Afghanistan.
The UN chief paid tribute to the sacrifices and contributions of Pakistan and its armed forces in the war against terror and in UN peacekeeping missions. He also acknowledged Pakistan's continued commitment to international peace and security, the statement said.
UN chief's Pakistan visit
The UN chief arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday on a three-day official visit. He met President Asif Ali Zardari, who conferred on him Nishan-e-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan's highest civil awards, in recognition of his distinguished international service, leadership and contribution to global peace and development. The UN chief also visited the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) on Tuesday.
(With inputs from agencies)
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