Context:
The United Nations (UN) has appointed Rear Admiral Guillermo Pablo Rios of Argentina as the Head of Mission and Chief Military Observer for the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
Relevance:
GS II: International Relations
Dimensions of the Article:
- What is UNMOGIP?
- Functions of UNMOGIP
- Conflicts between India and UNMOGIP
What is UNMOGIP?
- On January 24, 1949, the first contingent of UN military observers entered the mission area to monitor the truce between India and Pakistan in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
- These observers served as the core of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan, which was commanded by the Military Adviser assigned by the UN Secretary-General (UNMOGIP).
Functions of UNMOGIP
- Since the outbreak of new hostilities in 1971, UNMOGIP has stayed in the region to monitor changes relating to the strict implementation of the 17 December 1971 ceasefire and to report on such changes to the UN Secretary-General.
- The Karachi Agreement of July 1949 strengthened the position of military observers at the UN level and authorised oversight of the Ceasefire Line established in Jammu and Kashmir.
Conflicts between India and UNMOGIP
- India has not officially gone to the UNMOGIP since 1972 with complaints against Pakistan.
- India officially maintains that the UNMOGIP’s role was “overtaken” by the Simla Agreement of 1972 that established the Line of Control or the LoC.
- This with minor deviations followed the earlier Ceasefire Line.
- Pakistan, however, did not accept the Indian argument and continued to seek cooperation from the UNMOGIP.
- As a result of these divergent policies, Pakistan continues to lodge complaints with the UNMOGIP against alleged Indian ceasefire violations.
- Since the Simla Agreement of 1972, India has adopted a non-recognition policy towards third parties in their bilateral exchanges with Pakistan over the question regarding the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Kashmir and the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism within now is largely an internal matter of India.
-Source: The Hindu
