At UN, Sharif accuses India of fomenting instability in Pak, proposes 4-point peace formula

Watch Nawaz Sharif’s UN speech:

With no reassurance on Indian concerns of terrrorist attacks against it that have emanated from Pakistan, including the Mumbai attacks, Sharif’s speech instead sought to reverse the accusation by blaming India for instability in Pakiatan.

But in a series of tweets, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Vikas Swarup rubbished the Kashmir demilitarization proposal.

“To de-militarize Kashmir is not the answer, to de-terrorize Pakistan is,” Swarup tweeted, even as India was said to be foulating a detailed response.

He also dismissed Sharif’s reference to Kashmir- in the same breath as Palestine – as an “occupied” land, tweeting: “Pak PM gets foreign occupation right, occupier wrong. We urge early vacation of Pak-occupied Kashmir.”

Swarup told The Indian Express “a detailed response would follow”.

Pakistan’s instability arises from its breeding of terrorists. Blaming neighbors is not a solution.

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 30, 2015

The Pakistan Prime Minister said it had been his endeavor after coming to power to build bridges with India.

Saying “dialogue, not disengagement” was the need of the hour, and “co-operation, not confrontation” should define the relationship between the two countries, Sharif outlined what he called a “four-point programme” towards building peace with India:

“One, we propose that Pakistan and India formalize and respect the 2003 understanding for a complete ceasefire on the Line of Control in Kashmir. For this purpose, we call for UNMOGIP’s expansion to monitor the observance of the ceasefire.

Two, we propose, that Pakistan and India reaffirm that they will not resort to the use or the threat of use of force under any circumstances. This is a central element of the UN Charter.

Three, steps be taken to demilitarize Kashmir.

Four, agree to an unconditional mutual withdrawal from Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battleground.”

The demilitarization of Siachen Glacier was discussed between the two sides at the highest levels in 2005-2006, when it was expected that an agreement would be signed between the two countries.

It has been widely documented that the deal fell through after the Indian Army raised objections, saying that in the event of Pakistan doing a Kargil in Siachen, it would be virtually impossible to retake territory on the glacier.

The demilitarization of Kashmir was also discussed in the backchannel process between India and Pakistan during 2004-2007.

Sharif said the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the India-Pakistan boundary were intensifying and causing civilian deaths.

While he refrained from naming India for the ceasefire violations, he accused India of “foementing instability” inside Pakistan.

“Wisdom dictates that our immediate neighbor refrains from fomenting instability in Pakistan. The two countries should address and resolve the causes of tension and take all possible measures to avert further escalation,” he said, prefacing his four steps for peace.

Pakistani journalists said this line was not there in the advance copy of the text of the speech they had received, and that it appeared to have been added at the last minute.