United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon encourages Indo-Pak dialogue to resolve LoC tensions

UNITED NATIONS: UN chief Ban Ki-moon has encouraged India and Pakistan to resolve the escalating tensions along the Line of Control ( LoC) through dialogue and in a "peaceful" manner.

Ceasefire violations along the LoC have continued in the days following Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last month.

Pakistani troops had opened fire and shelled several border outposts along the International Border in Jammu and Samba this week.

Ban's spokesperson Martin Nesirky said the UN Chief is aware of the reports of tension along the LoC and would encourage the two nations to resolve their disputes through dialogue, on the lines of talks initiated during the bilateral meeting of the Prime Ministers.

"The discussions that did take place (between India and Pakistan) on the margins of the General Assembly meetings last month were important, and it is precisely that kind of dialogue which the Secretary-General would wish to encourage.

"We are obviously aware of these reports (LoC tension and ceasefire violations) over the past few days, and obviously not just the past few days. This needs to be dealt with by the two parties in a peaceful manner," Nesirky said in his press briefing yesterday.

Singh had told reporters accompanying him on his two-nation tour to Russia and China this month that he is "disappointed" with Sharif and asked him "even at this late hour" to recognise that what was happening on the LoC and International Border is not good for the two nations.

Singh has said that during his meeting with Sharif, there was a "general agreement" on both the sides that peace and tranquillity should be maintained on the border, LoC and the international border which he said has not happened.