Ban Ki-moon expresses concern over Kashmir, calls for dialogue: Pakistan

Ban called for avoidance of violence and offered his good offices to facilitate dialogue for a settlement of J&K dispute, Pak said.

Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has deplored the loss of lives in the Kashmir unrest and offered his good offices to facilitate dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue.

The Secretary-General made the remarks in response to a letter by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who had apprised him about the -"grave situation in Kashmir where large-scale violations of human rights were being committed by Indiansecurity forces-", the Foreign Office (FO) said.

Ban called for avoidance of violence and once again offered his -"good offices to facilitate dialogue for a negotiated settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute-", the FO said.

-"The UN SG has, inter alia, deplored the loss of life and hoped that all efforts will be made to avoid further violence,-" it said.

Ban added the UN was convinced it is only through dialogue that the outstanding issues between Pakistan and India, including on Kashmir, can be addressed.