Kashmir row rages in UN

Ban’s chief spokesperson Martin Nesirky defended his colleague Farhan Haq, associate spokesman, who is in the centre of the controversy, against attacks in the Indian press that suggested Haq was responsible for the remarks concerning the violence in Kashmir, which came out of the UN on July 28.

Nesirky also slammed the Indian press for suggesting Haq’s “ethnicity” as a possible motivation for the remarks on Kashmir, which New Delhi has strongly objected to. Haq is an American citizen born in Washington DC with roots in Pakistan.

“I won’t tolerate insults being directed against my colleagues,” a visibly agitated Nesirky said. The e-mail containing controversial remarks was originally sent out by Haq to Pakistani journalists who had been asking questions about Kashmir since the unrest mounted after June 11.