New Delhi, 10 October (H.S.): India has reiterated that the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has outlived its relevance following the 1972 Simla Agreement between the two countries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday.

Jaiswal made the remarks during the weekly media briefing while responding to a question about United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' visit to the UNMOGIP office in Islamabad on October 6 during his official visit to Pakistan.

It has been our consistent position that UNMOGIP has outlived its relevance after the Simla Agreement that was signed between India and Pakistan, Jaiswal said.

The Simla Agreement, signed in 1972, states that India and Pakistan would work towards ending conflict and confrontation, promoting friendly relations and establishing durable peace in the subcontinent. It also provides that relations between the two countries would be governed by the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter.

According to a United Nations statement, Guterres addressed a town hall meeting at the UNMOGIP office in Islamabad and described the mission as a long-standing operation working in a sensitive political environment. He commended its personnel for carrying out their mandate with dedication and professionalism.

Separately, Jaiswal said the India-Bangladesh Joint Working Group on Trade met in New Delhi on Thursday and Friday. The discussions, led at the joint secretary level, focused on trade matters and issues forming part of the bilateral agenda.

On Indian nationals reportedly serving in the Russian Army, Jaiswal said India was in discussions with the Russian government regarding 69 individuals whose whereabouts were being sought, along with information on steps to secure their return.

India has been urging Moscow to release Indian nationals serving in the Russian military and facilitate their return, the spokesperson said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar