India's foreign ministry responded to the UN Secretary-General's visit to the military observer group's Islamabad office, and used the same weekly briefing to flag trade talks and seafarer safety.

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• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres left New York on 5 October for a four-day visit to Pakistan, made at the invitation of the Pakistani government.
• He was expected to discuss Pakistan's diplomatic and mediatory role in the conflict between the United States and Iran.
• On 6 October, Guterres visited the UNMOGIP office in Islamabad, which monitors the Line of Control in disputed Jammu and Kashmir.
• He addressed the UNMOGIP town hall, calling it a unique, long-standing mission working in an extremely sensitive political environment.
• The Pakistan itinerary also included a briefing at the National Disaster Management Authority on disaster preparedness after devastating floods.
• At the 9 October weekly briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India's position that UNMOGIP lost relevance after the Simla Agreement is long-standing.
• Jaiswal said the India-Bangladesh joint working group on trade met in Delhi on Thursday and Friday at the joint secretary level.
• The first meeting of the Friends of Safety for Seafarers was held in New York to put the safety of seafarers and commercial shipping on the global agenda.
• India is in talks with Russia about another 69 Indian nationals believed to be serving in the Russian Army, seeking their whereabouts and return.
• The exchanges show India continuing to resist any third-party role in Kashmir while pursuing regional trade and maritime safety diplomacy.

Tags: UNMOGIP, MEABriefing, IndiaPakistanRelations