Iran says Kashmir crisis ‘should be settled diplomatically’

President Hassan Rouhani during a phone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday said the dispute in Kashmir has no military solution and should be resolved diplomatically.

According to Press TV, he said, the Islamic Republic had always tried to prevent tensions in the region and that it believed Muslims in the disputed Kashmir region had to be able to enjoy their legal rights to live peacefully.

He also called on India and Pakistan to exercise restraint to avert insecurity and the killing of innocent people.

“The issue of Kashmir has never had a military solution, and we should pursue the resolution of issues diplomatically,” President Rouhani said.

Last week, a fresh wave of tensions erupted between New Delhi and Islamabad over the disputed region after the Indian government scrapped the autonomy of Kashmir.

India dispatched thousands of additional troops to the Himalayan region in the wake of the move, declaring a strict curfew, shutting down telecommunications and internet, and arresting political leaders and pro-independence campaigners.

During the Sunday phone conversation, Prime Minister Khan expressed regret that Kashmir was witnessing “saddening incidents” and moves that violated international law.

He emphasized that Iran, as an important country in the region and the Muslim world, could play a positive role in resolving the Kashmir crisis.

He further hailed the Tehran-Islamabad ties as friendly and brotherly, underlining the need for expanding bilateral relations in all fields.

SS