The United Nations has backtracked from its statement that it will continue to monitor the situation in Kashmir through its military observer group in India and Pakistan. It clarified that the mission does not have a mandate beyond the Line of Control, LoC. <br/><br/>The clarification was issued by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric yesterday. The clarification came a day after the UN chief's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters that the UN will continue to monitor the situation in Kashmir, including through the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan, UNMOGIP.<br/><br/>The clarification seems to imply that the situation and incidents in Kashmir are India's internal matter and do not come under the control of the UNMOGIP that only observes and reports on ceasefire violations along the Line of Control. India has maintained that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the LoC.