Take up Kashmir issue with India: Geelani to UN chief Ban Ki-moon

SRINAGAR: Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani today appealed to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to persuade India to resolve the Kashmir issue.

" United Nations came into being for resolving disputes but it has so far not succeeded in resolving the long pending Kashmir issue. We appeal that the Secretary General should persuade India to give up its rigid stand and cooperate in finding a durable solution," Geelani said in a statement.

Geelani said besides creating hardships for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the delay in resolution was a threat to the peace in South Asian region.

"India and Pakistan are both nuclear powers and, due to Kashmir dispute, are engaged in an arms race," he said.