UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations Secretary General Dr. Boutros Boutros Ghali described the search for a political solution of the Kashmir dispute through a "meaningful dialogue" between India and Pakistan as a "matter of urgency," in his fifth annual report on the work of the Organisation, presented to 51st General Assembly on September 17th, 1996, in accordance with Article 98 of the Charter of the United Nations. Like the others, it offers a comprehensive overview of improvements in the administration of the Organisation and of the full range of its efforts in the service of humanity: to help the afflicted and the suffering; to oppose war, violence and intolerance; to promote the rights and dignity of every individual; and to help bring about the economic, social, political and environmental condition for long-term human progress.

On the issue of the Kashmir dispute, the Secretary General welcomed the readiness recently expressed by both India and Pakistan to resume official bilateral talks and emphasised, "I remain ready to render whatever assistance may be needed in this regard, should both countries find it useful."

On October 3rd, 1996, Pakistan proposed, in the General Assembly's debate, that the Assembly endorse the convening of a multilateral dialogue for peace and security in South Asia, to include Pakistan, India, the five permanent members of the Security Council and other major powers, such as Germany and Japan.

The Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, emphasised the absence of a regional security system in South Asia and said the proposed conference would cover three major areas: the resolution of the core dispute of Kashmir, as well as other bilateral problems between India and Pakistan; the promotion of conventional arms control and confidence­building measures; and measures to promote nuclear restraint and arrest the danger of a nuclear arms race in South Asia. She called on the Organisation to implement its seven specific and binding resolutions guaranteeing self­determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

After the creation of the United Nations, the people of Jammu and Kashmir were among the first to have their right to self­determination recognised by the Security Council, she continued. After fifty years, the Kashmiri people still awaiting the fulfilment of the Council resolution. Forty thousand Kashmiris had given their lives opposing oppression and aggression in the last seven years. India had sent in 600,000 military and paramilitary forces. India had also recruited and trained renegades to subvert the Kashmiri freedom movement. Under mounting international pressure, India sought to divert world opinion in September by organising a sham election. Such elections could not be a substitute for the Kashmiri's right to self­determination.

She said India would argue that the Council resolutions which guaranteed a plebiscite to Jammu and Kashmir were old and had no standing. But there was no statute of limitations on resolutions of the United Nations. Occupation repression and annexation could not nullify the actions of the Council. Furthermore, statutes of the United Nations could not be selectively applied for the sake of political expediency.

Dr. Ghali expressed hope that the "positive atmosphere would facilitate an early and peaceful resolution of difference between them, [India and Pakistan] including Kashmir." He also noted that incidents of violence have increased considerably in the recent years and the number of casualties along the Line-of-Control remains high. The United Nations Military Observers Group India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) continue to monitor the cease-fire line. The Secretary General further reported that both the countries have reaffirmed their commitment to respect the cease-fire line and to resolve the issue peacefully "in accordance with the Simla Agreement of 1972."