UN, US ask India and Pakistan to stay engaged.

Byline: Anwar Iqbal

WASHINGTON -- The UN Secretary General and the United States have both welcomed an understanding between India and Pakistan for reducing tensions, hoping that this would lead to further talks between the two neighbours.

Pakistan and India announced on Thursday that they had recommitted themselves to the 2003 ceasefire arrangement at the Line of Control (LoC) and agreed to address the 'core issues' that could undermine peace and stability.

In its first statement on occupied Kashmir on Thursday, the Biden administration urged India and Pakistan to hold direct talks on the issue and welcomed their agreement to de-escalate tensions along the LoC.

In New York, a spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the UN chief was 'encouraged by the joint statement issued by the militaries of India and Pakistan on their agreement to observing the ceasefire at the Line of Control in Kashmir and engaging through established mechanisms'.

The secretary general 'hopes that this positive step will provide an opportunity for further dialogue', spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Welcome understanding between Islamabad and Delhi for reducing tensions

The president of the UN General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, also welcomed the agreement which, he said, 'set an example for others and demonstrates the General Assembly's values'.

In Washington, US State Department spokesman Ned Price mentioned this agreement in his opening statement at Thursday afternoon news briefing. 'We welcome the joint statement between India and Pakistan that the two countries have agreed to maintain strict observance of a ceasefire along the LoC starting immediately,' he said.

'We encourage continued efforts to improve communication between the two sides and to reduce tensions and violence along the LoC,' he added.

His statement prompted journalists to ask as to what extent, if any, did the United States play a role in helping broker this new ceasefire agreement?

'When it comes to the US role, we continue to support direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on Kashmir and other issues of concern,' said the State Department spokesman. 'And [...] we certainly welcome the arrangement that was announAced' in the region, he added.

Price said that he and other officials of...