Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif meets UN chief Ban Ki-moon raises Kashmir issue

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and called for holding of plebiscite to determine the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

Sharif urged the Secretary-General to play a role in defusing tensions between Pakistan and India and to help end alleged violations at the Line of Control.

Ban stressed on the need for a dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve tensions between them.

The meeting is understood to have been dominated by the Kashmir issue.

The Pakistan Premier is currently in New York to attend the 70th United Nations General Assembly session, where his address is scheduled for September 30.

The Pakistan mission said the UN chief voiced concern over the tensions between India and Pakistan and said his good office were available.

Sharif also said Pakistan seeks to build a new relationship with its neighbour and expressed his country’s readiness to assist in promoting the Afghan reconciliation process if asked to do so.

The Prime Minister also discussed with the UN Secretary-General domestic priorities and the fight to eliminate terrorism.