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KARACHI: A three-member observer team of the United Nations (UN) visited the Working Boundary at Kundanpur village in Sialkot on Saturday to review damages caused by firing at the border, said a report published on Radio Pakistan.
At least 11 civilians — eight Pakistanis and three Indians — were killed and several others wounded on Friday during an exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani border troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir and Working Boundary in Sialkot's Charwah, Harpal, Chaprar and Sucheetgarh sectors.
Read: At least 11 killed as Indo-Pak border troops exchange fire
According to Punjab Rangers spokesman Major Waheed Bukhari, the United Nations Military Observers group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) team observed damages and losses caused during the exchange of fire.
Yesterday, the UN observers had visited the Thathi Khurd village in Sucheetgarh and had met locals affected by Indian shelling. During that visit, they had sought details from them about fresh hostilities on part of the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel. Both sides have been claiming that the other side had opened fire first.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had expressed concerns over firing along the Working Boundary. He had also expressed condolence over the loss of eight civilian lives and injuries to 47 others during the firing.
Following yesterday's firing, the Foreign Office had summoned Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan T.C.A. Raghavan and had lodged a strong protest with him "over continued LOC/working boundary violations".
Also yesterday, Raghavan was told that India had to honour the ceasefire agreement of 2003 between the two countries.
The developments come days after the first high-level peace talks in years between the two countries collapsed.
Last week, the first high-level peace talks in years between the two country's national security advisers were cancelled after a dispute over the agenda for those talks.
In December 2013, the two countries had pledged to uphold the 2003 ceasefire accord which had been left in tatters by repeated violations that year. The truce breaches had put the nascent bilateral peace dialogue on hold.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since becoming independent nations in 1947, two of them over Kashmir, which both claim in full but rule in part.
New Delhi has for years accused Pakistan of backing separatist Muslim militants in Indian-held Kashmir. Pakistan denies the allegations and blames India for fomenting unrest inside Pakistan.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (97) Closed
Aug 29, 2015 03:48pm
Good...only international pressure on the leadership of both countries can bring some sanity.
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Aug 29, 2015 03:52pm
Unprovoked firing by BSF on the border is a serious situation and UN must take notice of it. Every other day, BSF is also firing on cattle traders on Bangladesh border. There has to be some mechanism designed by UN to stop this barbaric killings by BSF.
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Aug 29, 2015 03:55pm
Doubt whether any third party would be able to resolve anything. Guess only both the countries only can jointly find any solution.
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Aug 29, 2015 04:08pm
one more time un team
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Aug 29, 2015 04:12pm
The only thing UN is good for is creating conflict. All they will do is inspect these villages and later hold meetings about meetings. Meanwhile predatory hawks of India will have the seat warmers ready for their seat at the security council. If this rigged caste system is considered a democracy please leave Pakistan and Kashmir out of it.
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Aug 29, 2015 04:15pm
Sartaz Aziz did wrong. He is too old person to think.
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Aug 29, 2015 04:28pm
looks like India is trying to play its old tactics it played in 1965 and 1971 and then imposed war on Pakistan but India should remember that Pakistan is much stronger now than it was in those years and moreover its a nuclear power as well - so don't even try to cast evil eyes on Pakistan
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Aug 29, 2015 04:31pm
@Ali I guess problems are seen both sides. Bloodshed has been witnessed by both sides so stop blaming
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Aug 29, 2015 04:32pm
Will the satellite technology help?
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Aug 29, 2015 04:33pm
So what UN found ?
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Aug 29, 2015 04:39pm
Where is the report on last inspection a month back
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Aug 29, 2015 04:46pm
@gerry dcunha no one is interested in a war with Pakistan. Because surely india has lot to loose in comparison with pakistan. Be it foreign investment eeconomic growth in various sectors. Nuclear war will be more devastating for a smaller sized nation than india which will also suffer losses.
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Aug 29, 2015 04:48pm
Taliban and Baluch terrorists are on the backfoot they are being destroyed by the Great Pak Fauj. India is trying to create a diversion for the Army to release the pressure from the Indian assets in Wazirstan and baluchistan. We know Indias game and we will not play it, but we will respond when the time is right.
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Aug 29, 2015 04:50pm
UN send medical team both side instead of observers .
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Aug 29, 2015 05:00pm
Once they finish their assessment. Pls send them to india as well. We have beautiful landscapes to show them
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Aug 29, 2015 05:08pm
Tit for tat or an eye for eye will make the whole world blind, one day. But the man is blind to sanity to the extent that even he refuses to listen to the famous saying of his own founding-father.
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Aug 29, 2015 05:08pm
UN team has no relevance because its a third party. As long as India does not recogonise UN's role we can't do anything. Nothing is going to happen.
All this is for domestic consumption.
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Aug 29, 2015 05:09pm
we do not want you guys to even blink at our homeland. stay out.
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Aug 29, 2015 05:29pm
@gerry dcunha If you are thinking of using n bomb. My dear. Gerry the residue and radioactive effect will effect pakistan as well.Be sensible and use conventional methods. Nobody in india boasts like aziz
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Aug 29, 2015 05:45pm
any voice raised now by eu for the killing of innocent on border by indian army.
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Aug 29, 2015 05:46pm
i think this is 3rd time UN team is visiting effected area. But no constructive outcome yet anyone of us have seen. The problem should be solved as soon as possible to save life of innocent citizens and national integrity.
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Aug 29, 2015 05:53pm
@gerry dcunha No country says we are nuclear power dont mess with us.
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Aug 29, 2015 05:55pm
International community should take notice of Indian voilation
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Aug 29, 2015 06:08pm
UN is good for nothing.
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Aug 29, 2015 06:08pm
@pure ind
Indians do not want to resolve the issue, that's why they are reluctant to involve the third party. When two parties can not resolve the issue, they go to the third party (THE COURT).
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Aug 29, 2015 06:12pm
Remember Kashmir is a DISPUTED territory between Pakistan and India and Pakistan has moral responsibility to support Kashmiris morally and politically. What part of this does India not understand?
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Aug 29, 2015 06:14pm
@pure ind, You are right both countries should sit down and talk. Why then India does not want to talk about Kashmir, which is the root cause of the problem.
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Aug 29, 2015 06:16pm
@DR VIMAL, Then India should stop meddling on Pakistani border.
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Aug 29, 2015 06:21pm
@M. Siddique Whom should we talk to? The army or the President ? Remember what happened to the Shimla Agreement?
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Aug 29, 2015 06:24pm
Why on earth do people still live and roam around the border?
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Aug 29, 2015 06:39pm
@Harmony-1
1 The international people don't pressurise india
2. So this visit was just like an evening walk.
All useless!!!
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Aug 29, 2015 06:40pm
Why even bother with accords when both sides dont honour it ? Between the politicians , hunger for power , on both sides poor people are dying. 11 families destroyed ! For what ?
Let the politicians on both sides face each other at the border and make their families live there for a few months and see if firing continues .
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Aug 29, 2015 06:42pm
Excellent. The international community has ignored the suffering of Kashmir, let them now finally resolve it, according to UN resolution. They must be pulled in to see what they have done by keeping quiet over Indian brutalities.
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Aug 29, 2015 06:42pm
@Sheraz Ahmed Khan On the contrary, International Community is taking note of violation OF Indian territory !!!!
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Aug 29, 2015 06:43pm
@Ayer talk to UN and they will talk to the right person in Pakistan. Btw who should UN talk to in India, the government or RSS or the Army.
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Aug 29, 2015 06:44pm
Modi Govt is behaving wrecklessly - rather ferociously; bleeding innocent civilians to coerce Pakistan. Such policies have failed in the past and are domed to fail again. India has to descend from the high horse of arrogance, else strategic stability in South Asia will remain an illusion. Indian aspirations to achieve regional super power status will feel if these are aimed at achieving hegemony.
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Aug 29, 2015 06:44pm
This is terrible news for India that UN observers have come to Pakistan. They should also go to India to verify the claims that we fired on them and then spit out the truth. India does not want third party intervention but they should realize that we are not 2 kids fighting in the block. We are both nuclear powers and any war between us can cause the world to come to an end. So stop that drama that we can jointly solve this problem. It's time we solve the Kashmir problem. Enough is enough.
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Aug 29, 2015 06:52pm
@Zak Talk to anybody result is same, Kashmir is integral part of India and will remain so, no UN resolution , nothing .
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Aug 29, 2015 06:52pm
@Manu USA it's only about kashmir and its people.
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Aug 29, 2015 06:59pm
@Zak Kashmir belongs to Indian Muslims , our growing numbers will ensure we come to power at centre and we will resolve all issues with kashmiris and we will take good care of them, you mind your own business.
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Aug 29, 2015 07:03pm
Mody policies dangerous for 150 crores living in the region
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Aug 29, 2015 07:03pm
Our economy is dependent on tourism , but thanks to terrorism we are not able to take full advantage of that , staying with India gives us best chance to improve our livelihood, India tourists are the biggest spenders and world's largest, so Pakistan should stop interference and let us live in peace and prosperity with Indian Union.
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Aug 29, 2015 07:22pm
i wish that TOP Management or the Think Tanks for these two countries - try to bring these two countries together. Our border should be border of peace and stability.
Ultimate benefit is of PEOPLE of these countries. There is NOTHING in these tiny things - which threaten the very existence of each country...
Stop - please stop and come to your senses - each one of you
In the end - I am sure you would - but during that time - countless innocent lives on both sides would be lost
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Aug 29, 2015 07:26pm
Where is chef executive of the Country, in Jeddah?
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Aug 29, 2015 07:30pm
@ilyas kashmiri: Yes. You are right. The Kashmir problem, India and Pakistan problem, and Pakistan's internal terrorism problem will go away as soon as Pakistan accept the LOC as international border.
India hasn't just attacked a country and grabbed land illegaly. It has a very valid reason to claim Kashmir, and it is the best for everyone that Pakistan appreciates this and accepts in good faith.
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Aug 29, 2015 07:35pm
Not sure what would be the outcome as they did this couple of times earlier too. UN is the silent observer all over the world. They will speak against Pakistan only!
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Aug 29, 2015 07:58pm
International community never allow pakistan and india to solve their issues and become develope countries.
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Aug 29, 2015 08:14pm
@M. Siddique check your facts, UN removed Kashmir from disputed territory list in 2010. Kashmir no more a disputed territory as per UN.
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Aug 29, 2015 08:17pm
These observers have been kicked out from India and their office have been shut down,,,useless fellows.
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Aug 29, 2015 08:34pm
Gabraltar ( Spain vs Britan) Falklands ( Britain vs Argentina) and Northern Ireland
( Ireland vs Britain) . What has UN done about these conflicts and disputed terrorities?
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Aug 29, 2015 09:20pm
@Imran A.
i believe UN observers are only in pak side
india no longer has UN observers
correct me if wrong
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Aug 29, 2015 09:23pm
@Imran A.
just a photo session
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Aug 29, 2015 09:26pm
What happened to the previous visit by UN team and it's outcome?
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Aug 29, 2015 10:06pm
@Dr Ahmad - Melbourne Do you think it is one sided?
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Aug 29, 2015 10:27pm
It's a state responsibility to provide protection to the citizens!
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Aug 29, 2015 10:31pm
They cant do anything due to SIMLA AGREEMENT.
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Aug 29, 2015 10:44pm
It is really sad to read the comments of my Pakistani and Indian brothers where we both are hating each others nations. I m an Indian and request all my brothers - Indian as well as Pakistani - that we should be united for peace and love and not divided for hatred.
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Aug 29, 2015 10:56pm
@ali Or Pakistan too don't want to get developed. Without Kashmir, Pakistan won't be developed. is it the case?
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Aug 29, 2015 10:56pm
We, with which I mean people of both India and Pakistan have to change attitude towards each other. Till our politicians know that any hate sentiment is easy to fan and will bring great benefits to them, they will continue to do so. Every Pakistani killed is an Indian killed and vice versa. Only the common people will be able to bring about this change, as it is our brothers, sisters and kids dying out there.
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Aug 29, 2015 11:05pm
Un observers in bullet proof jackets while ordinary pakistanis donot have the basic bunkers at border.Next time observers will surely be on bulletproof tankers.
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Aug 29, 2015 11:25pm
War is the wrong narrative. People are not realizing the dare consequences that affected population on both sides of border will bear in the aftermath. It's so unfortunate that we let our minds ruled by the rage and enmity towards each other instead of looking into amicable resolve to all issues. Pakistan has to be very calculated in every step from here and must think about own people first and foremost, even though it will be extremely hard to restrain against the constant provocation & agitation by India.
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Aug 29, 2015 11:38pm
@asaduddin owaisi You can't take Pakistan out of Kashmiris heart no matter what mask you wore to entice them. Someday, there will be another Cricket match, there will be another Miandad or Afridi-esque Six and oppressed Kashmiris will celebrate victory of Pakistan all across India, and then we will see the rage of the oppressor at full strength in the valley. So unfortunate.
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Aug 29, 2015 11:48pm
@Manu USA , Mahtama Ghandi was also very old? So was Desai, vajpiye etc.
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Aug 30, 2015 12:06am
Please list the gains Pakistan has made on K issue against India.
India wanted to be left alone in peace. Please please please don't disturb India it is a country of non- violence preacher The Mahatma Gandhi.
"Our love for peace should not be considered as a weakness"
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Aug 30, 2015 12:30am
@M. Siddique Remember our obsession for Kasmir have ruined us.
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Aug 30, 2015 01:38am
@gerry dcunha the ignorance of the masses on nuclear war has ruined Pakistan psyche. The irony is that if a nuclear war is triggered the automatic retaliation controls would ensure that the country launching the first strike would not even get minutes to enjoy any losses on the other side and would be burnt. Its almost the same as dropping the bomb on your own populations. The command and control systems do not require human intervention for retaliation .
Now whether you have 300 bombs or 3 the result is likely the same .
On the low yield tactical nuclear weapons the use will result in a de-nuclearisation of Pakistan along with similar or higher retaliation.
The nuclear pride is for TV talk shows and entertainment the masses need to be super stupid to root for a strike on their heads.
Sartaj Aziz knows better .
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Aug 30, 2015 01:43am
@pure ind : I liked the way you put the idea behind fit ility of Nuke exchange. There has never been a nuclear war in human history. There mountains of observations of direct observers , photos, videos, rorts, books, articles showing disasters of nuke war and its effects to victims in the target area. Yet most politicians and the military and the intellectuals in Pakistan beat their chest and think such a war is winnable.
Nukes are no use against a nuke armed enemy. There is no winner in a nuke war
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Aug 30, 2015 02:08am
@pure ind If India is so innocent, then why does it object to a 3rd party mediation? If India had nothing to hide, then let international journalists and UN team visit the LOC and determine for themselves who is at fault. If they find Pakistan to be at fault, I would expect my country to apologize.
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Aug 30, 2015 02:10am
@ningirsu this is the best comment.
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Aug 30, 2015 02:13am
It is not kidding, it is a loss of life. This is not a terrorist attack. It is an attack from so call largest democracy of the world. They burned their gusts in the train. This country have biggest religious riots and thousands parsed. Pakistan appeared have a weak leadership. MS must knock the door of his master and must tell him, how many more wars Pakistan should fight for them.
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Aug 30, 2015 02:18am
@Sheraz Ahmed Khan
They already did. Now what?
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Aug 30, 2015 02:26am
@ningirsu if kashmir is integral part of India, how come we see green pakistan flags flying in IOK, and Pak cricket cheering against India. It's integral part of pakistan.
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Aug 30, 2015 02:27am
@asaduddin owaisi kashmir belongs to kashmiris, not to anybody else.
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Aug 30, 2015 02:42am
There was an article in Dawn few days before talks were to take place on August 22. It called for restrain by some people behind the scene. Army of Pakistan is spoiling the situation by playing blind fiddle. Also Politicians do not have ability to resolve the issue as there seems to be some pull from various internal sources. Prime Minister should take bold step and keep such forces at bay. Meet Indians officials without meeting any third party in India. PAKISTAN HAS TO COME CLEAN ON MANY SIDES.
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Aug 30, 2015 02:52am
@gerry dcunha You are one of those ill informed persons that think war will solve problem. Has any war in the world solved any problem. If Pakistan is strong and powerful so are other countries. You give one blow and will take one blow. Who will suffer, the common person. Army has been misguiding the citizens and giving false hope of getting some territories. Be happy with Azad Kashmir which India has not taken back to this date. Why is Pakistan Army making common people suffer just for lost cause of Kashmir. Do you think India will give Kashmir in a plate to Pakistan. Stop dreaming. Make you country that serves the needs of Pakistani citizens. over 50 thousand displaced people from earth quakes and flood are still suffering since last ten years and these leaders are talking Kashmir only. Shame on those who think the way you think. You have to think of your own people than talk about war with India.
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Aug 30, 2015 02:53am
@Dr Ahmad - Melbourne .. Do you have any proof that BSF firing at cattle traders?
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Aug 30, 2015 04:10am
@Dr Ahmad - Melbourne ; Not cattle traders; cattle smugglers. Please don't whitewash things.
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Aug 30, 2015 04:32am
@SUNIL nope
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Aug 30, 2015 06:00am
@Befree - India is an occupying force and you should recognize it. Resistance movements always give birth to forced occupation and the British Empire's occupation of the then Indian Subcontinent is a classic example.
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Aug 30, 2015 06:27am
UNO, U stand for US and rest is NO. UNO will do nothing, tell me where uNO is affective in Kashmir, Pelestine,Syria, Yemen and in afghanistan or in any troubled area of the world. UNO is only there where US interest lies.
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Aug 30, 2015 06:52am
Pakistan appears soooo desperate to revitalize the Kashmir issue. Nothing has been achieved and the way things are going in rest of the world, no one really cares about this.
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Aug 30, 2015 06:52am
And now the Indians will cry, as they don't want any neutral peace/investigation forces like the UN to investigate all this.
The truth will eventually come out.
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Aug 30, 2015 07:08am
@gerry dcunha every time this power hysteria created in Pak. Do you think India has not became stronger? Every time someone reminds Pakistan is nuclear power .....it's like a school boy gives threat. Pakistan is nuclear power...then What about India? It won't sit quite.
Best solution is both side should sit and solve issues. It's in interest of common man of both nations.
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Aug 30, 2015 08:06am
leaders of both countries are foolish. Actually these wars are being fought between USA and China and Russia. they never want permanent solution to this regional problem. because solution will lead to loss in their business of arms and ammunition. they are developed countries because we Indian and pak are buyer of their arms. we have lost trillion of dollars in importing and making arms that could have made us developed. Not a single Indian and Pakistani leaders and civilians are ready to understand this. we both are brother who fight on others tactics.
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Aug 30, 2015 09:16am
we should stop the balme game against each other and retrospect the facts not news headlines
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Aug 30, 2015 12:25pm
It needs to be stopped now otherwise we will keep on losing of poor civilians on both sides. we as a Muslim don't believe in killing innocent peoples, our Islam spread peace, brotherhood with all nations. BSF should stop these unprovoked firing at loc.
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Aug 30, 2015 02:44pm
we want justice from UN
and peace....
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Aug 30, 2015 03:18pm
I am an Indian living in New Delhi. 99 % People in both sides of Kashmir do not care about any dispute. there basic aim is to earn enough so that they can feed and educate their children well. I visited Srinagar last year with my family and I can tell you that average kashmiri is more concerned about tourism than any dispute. The people of Srinagar are so good and peace loving that words cannot describe them. and I spoke to the owner of the Houseboat where we stayed in Srinagar....his number one priority was that tourism should improve so that he could take good care of his family..I think that average people on the other side of the border also think the same..it is only the politicians and wealthy people ( jinka pet bhara hua hai ) who wish to keep this issue alive...people of both the countries should therefore must demand. a better living standards...that ought to be the first priority rather than mutual hate and destruction..
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Aug 31, 2015 02:11am
@dinesh You have said it well. But who cares about the concern you are raising or the Kashmiri suffering population experience on a daily basis. The boundary commission deliberately left this thorn in the eyes of Sub-Continent so as to keep the India and Pakistan pre-occupied in the simple formula of divide and rule. Selfish politicians are scoundrels as said by Aristotle, and will continue to exploit the poor population for their benefit. Chief Military Observer of UNMOGIP for India and Pakistan must analyze this UNMO's visit report and report the severity of LoC violations in it's true perspective, else the consequences of all out war between India and Pakistan will resonate throughout the world for repeat of looking the other way as was done in case of Rawanda in 1994 which costed more than 500,000 human lives. Let the United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki Moon take personal direct interest in this matter now and appoint a special envoy to immediately travel to South Asia ASAP
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Aug 31, 2015 09:36am
@pure ind Why are you Indians so afraid of third parties ? Whether it's Kashmir leaders or UN Observers , Indians have a problem. Hiding something ?
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Aug 31, 2015 10:00am
@prasant "on bulletproof tankers."....LOL...What do they do with bullet proof tankers....Supply water....
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Aug 31, 2015 10:01am
@Canada ....has vast lands to use for their small population, whereas that's not the case in India & Pakistan...
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Aug 31, 2015 10:02am
@Ali ...it is recklessly
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Aug 31, 2015 10:17am
@Azhar ....Nobody is forcing you to fight....you have taken that decision, so you have to bear the consequences
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Aug 31, 2015 12:19pm
Is not the UN team visiting India-Pakistan Border for the last 68 years?
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Aug 31, 2015 02:59pm
@gerry dcunha "looks like India is trying to play its old tactics it played in 1965 and 1971"
Please refer Cyril Almeida's article on Dawn.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1203708/gibraltar-grand-slam-and-war
You can, of course, get the same information in any history book outside Pakistan, but knowing that you'll promptly dismiss it with some conspiracy theory, perhaps a dose of home grown truth will help.
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Aug 31, 2015 06:06pm
So what did the report say?
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