UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon regrets India-Pakistan NSA-talks did not happen

UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday expressed regret over calling-off of the planned NSA-level talks between India and Pakistan and hoped that leaders of the two countries will use "all opportunities" to resume talks soon.

"The Secretary-General regrets that the planned meeting between the National Security Advisors (NSA) of Pakistan and India did not take place on 23-24 August. The Secretary-General reiterates his call to both countries to continue to address their differences through dialogue. He sincerely hopes that the leaders of the countries will use all opportunities to resume talks at an early date," Ban's Associate Spokesperson Eri Kaneko told PTI.

Pakistan had called off the talks at the last moment after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had virtually given an ultimatum to Islamabad to give a commitment that it would not meet Kashmiri separatist leaders. The UN Chief had last week welcomed the talks between the NSAs and hoped that the dialogue would lead to positive outcomes.