Norway urges international mediation for Kashmir

Oslo, May 12 : In Oslo, the Foreign Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre has called upon the international community to mediate between Pakistan and India on the Kashmir dispute to pave way for the start of constructive peace talks between the two countries for its early resolution.
Jonas Gahr Støre, while answering a written question in the parliamentary session raised by Deputy Speaker, Representing Christian Democrats (KrF) and the Chairman of the Kashmir Parliamentary Group Mr Ola T Låne, the Foreign Minister said that the dispute was put at the backburner between India and Pakistan following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai which broke down the peace talks between the two arch rivals.
“Kashmir is a conflict-filled and heavily militarised area. There has been a subject of conflicts between India and Pakistan in over fifty years and have resulted two wars on Kashmir. I have noted that there are increasing reports of unrest in the Indian-controlled Kashmir area in recent past and this is worrying for the developments in that area,” he said.
The Foreign Minister said, despite the Mumbai attacks, yet there is a way that the two countries can come together and the international community has to do what it can to evolve such development.
He added that the two sides until now had not shown any agreement to be a third party so they can contribute to a solution.
The Foreign Minister said as India and Pakistan are nuclear powers therefore it is more important that the international community in Norway - is pushing for a peaceful solution of the dispute.
Thanking the Foreign Minister for detailed answers regarding government views on Kashmir dispute, Mr. Ola T Låne said that Kashmiri people suffered very much over the time. “Civilians have suffered, and human rights have been violated. Recently mass graves were discovered near the border with Pakistan on the Indian side that says that there has been bloodshed,” he said. (KMS)