UN observers have not directly witnessed firing across LoC: Ban spokesperson

UN military observers have not directly witnessed any firing across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson said on Friday.

Briefing reporters, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said: "UNMOGIP (UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan) has not directly observed any firing across the line of control relating to the latest incidents."

However, he added: "The UN Observer Group in India and Pakistan is aware of the reports of the presumed ceasefire violations and is liaising with the concerned authorities to obtain further information."

When a reporter said that India had said it had carried out "surgical strikes" across the LoC, Dujarric replied: "What I am saying is that UNMOGIP has not directly observed any firing. They are obviously aware of the reports of these presumed violations and are talking to the relevant, concerned authorities."

India has publicly said that it carried out surgical strikes against terrorist launchpads across the LoC in Pakistan-controlled areas of Kashmir.

The action followed the terrorist attack from there on an Indian Army base 11 days ago in Uri in which 19 soldiers were killed.

Pakistan has officially denied there was any incursion by Indian forces into territory held by it.

UNMOGIP, set up in 1949 to supervise the cease-fire between India and Pakistan in Kashmir, is headed by Major General Per Gustaf Lodin of Sweden and has 41 military observers drawn from ten countries.

India has said that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility as India and Pakistan acknowledged in the 1972 Simla Agreement the dispute is bilateral issue.

Islamabad, however, continues to try to internationalise the issue and seeks external intervention.

--IANS

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