India rejects UN chief's offer to defuse hostility between Pakistan, India on Kashmir

• "There is no role or scope for third party mediation," Indian Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
• "I have offered my good offices to diffuse tension. Of course, good offices can only work if accepted by both the sides," the UN chief said in a presser on Sunday.

Following United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres's offer to defuse hostility between Pakistan and India on the Kashmir issue, the neighbor rejected the offer and said there is no role or scope for third party mediation.

Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar dismissed the offer and claimed that the issue that needs to be addressed is that 'of the territories illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan'. "Further issues, if any, would be discussed bilaterally. There is no role or scope for third party mediation," The Hindu quoted Kumar.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday, the UN chief expressed great concern regarding the current crisis in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK). He called for resolution of the Kashmir dispute by honouring resolutions of the UN Security Council.

The UN chief also noted the full freedom of movement at the Pakistani side of Kashmir and hoped the same would be achieved on the Indian side.

Guterres stressed the need for de-escalation, both militarily and verbally regarding the two nuclear countries. "I have offered my good offices to diffuse tension. Of course, good offices can only work if accepted by both the sides," he said.