Pak finds no support in UN on surgical strikes: India

United Nations: India has said UN had not responded as per Pakistan’s expectations on the issue of surgical strikes in PoK and dismissed claims that the UN ceasefire monitoring Group had not directly observed any firing along the LoC. India had carried out surgical strikes across the LoC on terrorists' launch pads in PoK on the night of September 29, which Pakistan is denying. India’s permanent representative to UN Syed Akbaruddin talking to reporters dismissed a remark made by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s spokesperson Stephan Dujarric that UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan(UNMOGIP) "has not directly observed any firing across LoC related to the incidents.’’

 Mr Akbaruddin said the facts on the ground situation would not change irrespective of whether somebody observed it or not. "I have nothing to say because what he said was ‘directly observed'. It’s a call they have to take. I cannot place myself in their boots and directly observe something,’’ Mr Akabruddin said when asked about Mr Djuarric’s remark. Mr Akbarudin said Pakistan tried to approach the UNSC over the issue of surgical strike and called for intervention of the world body but it did not find any support. He was referring to the meeting of Pakistan’s envoy Maleeha Lodhi with New Zealnad’s UN representative Gerad Van Bohemen, the president of the Council for September, to raise the issue of the action by the Indian Army.

"Was there any resonance, I didn't hear that, nor anybody else in the informal consultations. We are a responsible state. It is not our intention to aggravate the situation. However, as a responsible state, we will not tolerate any impunity. We will not be indifferent to territory being used to kill innocent citizens of our country,’’ he said. Earlier, Mr Dujarric in his media briefing said the Secretary General was following the situation along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan with great concern and had urged both the governments to exercise maximum restraint and address the outstanding issues peacefully and through dialogue.

"The Secretary General also recalls the role played by UNMOGIP, which is deployed to observe, to the extent possible, developments pertaining to the strict observance of the 1971 ceasefire and to report thereon to the Secretary General. UNMOGIP has not directly observed any firing across the Line of Control related to the latest incidents,’’ he said. (UNI)