India rejects UN probe demand

Responding to questions, Menon said, "I do not speak for the Pak army. I cannot tell you what is in their mind. I can tell you what happens. There has been an increase in ceasefire violations. There has been an increase in infiltration attempts, not only in the last few months. In 2012 there was an overall increase over 2011. That is a fact. And that is something we are dealing with, both ourselves and with the Pakistani authorities."

When asked about Pakistan's demand that it was ready to hold investigations through the United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), he said in a dismissive tone, "UNMOGIP still exists? I thought they do not have a role."

On behalf of UNMOGIP, the UN spokesperson in New Delhi said, "Since investigations are on, we are not going to comment on the matter." UNMOGIP maintains an office in Srinagar, and its office in New Delhi on the Purana Qila Road remained locked on Thursday.

Government sources said India does not give any cognizance to the UNMOGIP since 1971, and had communicated about New Delhi's position more than 40 years back. Unlike other UN missions, UNMOGIP — one of the two oldest UN missions — does not need any periodic renewal of the mandate.

While India has not been reporting the ceasefire violations to UNMOGIP for the last 40 years — since it believes that UNMOGIP's mandate ended after the ceasefire line became the LoC — Pakistan has been regularly reporting the incidents to the UN mission.

Border tension

De-escalate tension: UN to India, Pak

UNITED NATIONS: The UN has urged India and Pakistan to respect the ceasefire and "de-escalate" tensions over the recent cross-border firings through dialogue. "UNMOGIP is aware that the Pakistan Army and Indian Army are in contact via the Hotline and urges both sides to respect the ceasefire and de-escalate tensions through dialogue," The United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan said in a statement to PTI. "No official complaint has been received either from the Pakistan Army or Indian Army" regarding the January 8 clash in which two Indian soldiers were killed, it said.

... contd.

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