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UN does not mention Kashmir for the first time in 50 years, but Pakistan to raise the issue nevertheless

Dhirendra Bisht and C K Arora in New York

Pakistan appears determined to raise the Kashmir issue at the United Nations General Assembly though the world body has not mentioned it in its annual report for the first time in 50 years.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief gave a clear indication to this effect when he said he would make use of the opportunity to ''project our principled position on major issues, including Kashmir.''

The other issues he specifically listed included ''regional and global peace and security,'' which again offers him a chance to bring up his country's relations with India, especially in the context of three rounds of talks between the two countries.

The exclusion of the Kashmir issue in the UN annual report has become a matter of concern and controversy in Pakistan. Many in that country fear it might be a signal sent out by the world body and its top officials, that the issue be settled bilaterally by India and Pakistan.

Pakistan wants the US to play a role in the settlement of the contentious issue, but India is totally opposed to a third party involvement in the dispute.

The US says it does not not favour any mediatory role for itself, but would be willing to help the two countries resolve the 50-year-old dispute and normalise relations in the sub-continent.

Most recently, the issue figured at the third round of foreign secretary-level talks in New Delhi last week which failed to make headway mainly because of different interpretations of the Islamabad joint statement in June about setting up working groups on various issues.

India's position is that the statement does not envisage a working group on Jammu and Kashmir, while Pakistan insists it does. The matter is likely to come up during Sharief's meeting with Gujral on Tuesday.

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