By Lalit K. Jha, IANS,
United Nations : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday praised India’s “courageous handling” of the Mumbai terrorist attack last month, which killed more than 170 people including several foreign nationals.
Responding to a question on the increasing tension between India and Pakistan in the wake of the attack, Ban stressed the need to continue dialogue between the two South Asian neighbours.
Addressing his year-ender press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, Ban said India and Pakistan should continue with their composite dialogue.
Stating that India and Pakistan are two important countries in South Asia, Ban said peace between the two countries is not only important for the region but also for entire world.
“While there has been some period when India and Pakistan were at war and there have been tension on many issue like Kashmir, I believe that India and Pakistan are two very important countries in the region,” Ban said.
“Peace between the two countries would have great implications not only in the region but also in the entire world,” he said. “I believe this should be resolved in a harmonious way,” he said.
Ban said the Nov 26 Mumbai attack is unacceptable and terrorism cannot be justified to resolve any issue.