Islamabad, Feb 18 (UNI) United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres, who is on a four-day visit to Pakistan, met the country's Members of Parliament and offered to mediate, to resolve the Kashmir issue with India.
According to local media reports, the UN chief met MPs on Monday and thanked them for supporting the resolution of Kashmir dispute, as per the resolutions of the UN Security Council.
The MPs told Mr Guterres that bilateral talks with India could not be resumed in the prevailing war-like atmosphere and emphasised that the role of UN leadership in such a tense environment had become even more important.
The Parliamentarians apprised the UN Secretary General about the Indian government's decision to abrogate Article 370 on August 5 in Jammu and Kashmir, stripping the erstwhile state of it's special status.
Mr Guterres said he had visited Pakistan on a number of occasions, but the purpose of this visit was to express solidarity with the people and government of Pakistan.
He said Pakistan was a peace loving country and it has been whole-heartedly hosting the Afghan refugees for the past four decades, adding that it had also successfully eliminated the scourge of terrorism from it's soil.
According to the UN Secretary General, the world body could play the role of a mediator for the resolution of the long-standing Kashmir issue, while stressing on diplomacy and dialogue, which were of much importance in resolving the issue.
He said the basic right of people of the valley must be ensured at all costs.
UNI XC-RHK RJ 1216