India Rejects UN on Kashmir Mediation

Antonio Guterres made an offer to mediate the conflict over Kashmir during a four-day visit to Pakistan. (Flickr)

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) rejected an offer by United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to mediate the Indian-Pakistani conflict over Kashmir on February 16, instead saying that India would only discuss the issue bilaterally.

During his four-day visit to Pakistan, Guterres expressed concern over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, telling journalists that he was “ready to help if both countries agree for mediation,” reported the Hindu.

“The issue of [Jammu and Kashmir] that needs to be addressed is that of vacation of the territories illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan,” the MEA’s official spokesperson said on February 16. “Further issues, if any, would be discussed bilaterally. There is no role or scope for third party mediation.”

The UN has intervened in the nearly 73-year-long conflict before. After the First Kashmir War broke out in October 1947, India requested that the UN intervene to help the two countries find a solution, according to BBC. The UN suggested a vote to decide whether Kashmir would become a part of India or Pakistan, but the two sides could not reach an agreement on how to demilitarize the region before the vote.

The two countries later took the UN’s recommendation to hold a ceasefire and divided Kashmir between themselves. However, the ceasefire was short-lived. The countries fought a second war in 1965, and they engaged in a brief conflict in 1999.

Guterres has offered to mediate the Kashmir conflict several times, including when tensions increased after India’s decision to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August, the New York Times reported.

The Indian government’s rejection of Guterres’ offers has been routine, as it currently has the upper-hand in the conflict with its control over most of Kashmir.

Many Kashmiris, particularly older residents, do not want to be a part of India as they feel alienated from the Indian community, according to Netadata.

Kashmir originally opted for independence in 1947 and only agreed to be a part of India if it was granted autonomy.

However, India’s withdrawal of the region’s special status and the subsequent lockdown has threatened such freedom.

India has blamed Pakistan for the persisting conflict and hopes that the UN will “emphasize on [sic] the imperative for Pakistan to take credible, sustained and irreversible action to put an end to cross-border terrorism against India.”

During a question-and-answer session at a press conference with Pakistan’s foreign minister, Guterres emphasized the importance of obtaining both parties’ commitment to mediation.

“From the beginning, I have offered my good offices in relation to the situation, and of course, good offices can only work when accepted by both sides.”

Guterres also acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism, saying, “I believe that one has to recognize that the efforts that Pakistan has made to fight terrorism are absolutely remarkable.”