Pakistan PM to raise Kashmir in United Nations speech

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would raise the Kashmir issue in his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, the government said while ruling out resumption of any dialogue with India unless the initiative in this regard is taken by New Delhi.

Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Ajaz Ahmad Chaudhry told reporters in New York there is "no reason" for Sharif not to raise the issue of Kashmir during his address to the annual session of United Nations General Assembly on Friday afternoon.

Chaudhry, who is accompanying Sharif, said that Pakistan believes that a plebiscite is still a solution to Kashmir. He said that the onus for resumption of any kind of interaction is with India, which he said, had earlier called off the bilateral talks at the level of foreign secretaries.

 "It is India which cancelled the talks. It's for them (India) to take the initiative for any interaction (between the two countries)," Chaudhry said.

If India takes the initiative for talks, Pakistan would consider it, he said in response to a question.

Image: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif