Malaysia hopes for UN intervention to ease Pakistan-India tensions, says Defence Minister
JOHOR BARU: Malaysia hopes that the United Nations (UN) would take an active role in controlling rising tensions between Pakistan and India, as it monitors development in the South Asian continent.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said a good solution must be reached by the two countries to avoid an outbreak of war.
"Both countries are friendly countries to Malaysia so we do not want the two to go to war...because if there is a war, it will certainly have bad consequences, especially for the people of both countries," he said.
He told reporters after officiating the 56th Johor State Annual Representative Conference of the Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association (PVATM), here on Thursday (May 1).
Pakistan on Thursday reportedly claimed that India is planning to launch a military attack on the country soon, based on intelligence warnings.
This follows the escalation of tensions between the two nuclear-armed countries after a bloody attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22 left 26 tourists dead.
India identified three attackers, including two Pakistani nationals, as terrorists who were waging an armed insurgency in the Muslim-majority region while Islamabad denied any involvement and called for an independent investigation.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Khaled said the ministry planned to reorganise associations involving armed forces veterans to ensure the effectiveness of the associations involved.
He said there are currently 122 associations related to armed forces veterans, with some inactive and of small membership sizes.
"So we want to reorganise so that the associations that are created can truly meet the needs of members and views on veterans' matters can be brought forward in an integrated manner," he said.
He said this would simultaneously increase the effectiveness and attention received for the views and "voices" of veterans compared to each association operating alone.
At the same event, Mohamed Khaled also announced an allocation of RM40,000 for painting and upgrading works at the PVATM Office in Johor Bahru as well as RM44,000 to carry out activities at the PVATM branch level in Johor. - Bernama
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