Ban asks India, Pakistan to solve disputes thru dialogue

New Delhi (PPI) - United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on India and Pakistan to solve all disputes through dialogue despite the recent tension between the two countries over Mumbai terrorist attack. In an interview with daily the Hindu published on Saturday, Ban said all issues between India and Pakistan, including Kashmir, should be "resolved harmoniously through dialogue." Describing the Mumbai attack in November last year as a "crime against humanity" which he said was totally unacceptable. He said this attack should strengthen the international community's resolve to work on a "comprehensive international convention on terrorism." The United Nations (UN) chief held talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and ruling Congress President Ms Sonia during his visit. He said the fight against terrorism should be done by any government "voluntarily" rather than through outside pressure. "In investigating and addressing terrorism, that should be done voluntarily by any member state (of the UN) even before any pressure, so-called pressure, comes," he was quoted as saying by the Hindu. Ban also said that he was convinced the Pakistani government had "committed to addressing terrorism" and would cooperate fully with the Indian government over the Mumbai attack. He said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told him that Pakistan government would "enact the legislation to allow them punish those Pakistanis who are engaged in terrorist acts outside Pakistan."

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