UNITED NATIONS (DNA) – Prime Minister Imran Khan called on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday.

Commending the Secretary General for his clear articulation of the UN position on Kashmir dispute, the Prime Minister briefed him on the 54-days long siege of over 8 million Kashmiris amidst communications blackout. Such draconian lock-down had no parallel in recent history, and the need for its immediate lifting could not be stressed enough.

The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s rejection of Indian illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August as these were in clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

Noting that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights had comprehensively documented the previous gross human rights violations by India in Kashmir, the Prime Minister underlined that India’s recent actions represented a new chapter of intensified human rights abuses.

The Prime Minister highlighted the risks to regional peace and security that arose from India’s illegal and irresponsible actions, underscoring the responsibility of the UN and international community to take urgent steps to save lives and help resolve the long-standing Jammu & Kashmir dispute.

The Secretary General reiterated his deep concern over the human rights and humanitarian situation in Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir, reaffirmed that he would remain engaged on the issue and conveyed that his offer to help facilitate a peaceful solution continued to stand.