The Hindu : U.N. Observer Group calls for J&K 'ceasefire'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 18, 2003

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U.N. Observer Group calls for J&K 'ceasefire'

By Praveen Swami

Srinagar Sept. 17. The United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan, UNMOGIP, has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Jammu and Kashmir.

A press release issued on Tuesday by the UNMOGIP calls on "the parties involved in the Kashmir issue to observe the International Day of Peace on September 21 and appeals to them to initiate a ceasefire and to do their best to prolong the duration of any cessation of hostilities for as long as possible."

"The conflict over Jammu and Kashmir", the UNMOGIP said, "has cost many lives, caused much tragedy and could, sadly, continue to affect the stability of the region for years to come. It is the UNMOGIP's hope that the parties to the conflict will embrace this opportunity to lay down their arms and observe the International Day of Peace."

The UNMOGIP's activism has startled observers, since the organisation's charter does not include intervention in India-Pakistan issues. Set up in the wake of the 1947-48 war that broke out after a Pakistan-backed invasion of Jammu and Kashmir, the UNMOGIP was charged with monitoring what was then referred to as the Cease-Fire Line. India argues that the delineation of the Line of Control after 1971 has rendered the UNMOGIP redundant.

Significantly, the UNMOGIP has addressed its call to an unspecified number of parties, and called on all of them to disarm. The United Nations recognises only India and Pakistan as parties to the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir.

The UNMOGIP's language, however, suggests that it believes Pakistan-backed terrorist groups are also parties to the conflict.

A top External Affairs Ministry official in New Delhi reacted with anger to the press release. "We shall be taking this up with the United Nations Headquarters in New York tomorrow," he said, "and shall express our outrage in the strongest terms. UNMOGIP has abused its authority."

It is unclear whether the UNMOGIP press release had the authorisation of the United Nations Headquarters. Colonel Miguel Dumay, the acting chief military observer of the UNMOGIP was not immediately available for comment.

Perhaps significantly, though, the ceasefire call was made even as a senior United States diplomat arrived in Srinagar, a development which secessionist leaders read as a sign of renewed Western interest in the region.

In April this year, the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had offered to hold talks with secessionist groups in Jammu and Kashmir. Many in the State, as well as elements of the international community, had hoped the offer would be followed by an unconditional ceasefire.

Military and police officials had, however, shot down the idea.

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