UNITED NATIONS: Urging Pakistan and India to resolve Kashmir issue through peaceful dialogue, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon deplored the ongoing massacre in Indian-held Kashmir during clashes between security forces and civilian protestors on Friday. “I stand ready to offer my good offices, should it be requested by both sides, to facilitate dialogue in order to achieve a negotiated settlement,” he noted in his reply to a previous letter from Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. The Pakistani premier had apprised the UN chief about the escalating violence in Kashmir and the large-scale violations of human rights being committed by Indian security forces. According to the letter received by media sources, Ki-Moon also wrote, “I deplore the loss of life and hope that all efforts will be made to avoid further violence.” At least 70 Kashmiri civilians have been killed while thousands more have been injured in Indian-held Kashmir in the aftermath of the military operation that claimed Kashmiri youth leader, Burhan Wani, on July 8.
