Germany will not interfere in Kashmir: Envoy

Srinagar: Germany on Tuesday said it fully recognises the legitimate institutions in Jammu and Kashmir and will not take any position on Kashmir issue that can be seen as an interference.

"German position on Kashmir is (has) not changed. We will not take a position which can be in any way seen as an interference," German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner told reporters here. He said his visit to the state is an endorsement of legitimacy of the institutions in Jammu and Kashmir. "We, of course -- and I do this by coming here to Srinagar, recognise fully the legitimate institutions in Kashmir," Steiner said. He said the focus of German efforts in Jammu and Kashmir is to help the state prosper. "We concentrate ourselves on helping Kashmir to prosper and to get into an exchange with us. We are not here in politics on this issue," he added. Steiner expressed condolences to the families of those killed in firing incidents in Kashmir in the last two days. "Every life lost is a tragedy for us all. I pay my respects to those who lost their lives on Sunday and Monday in Kashmir and express my heartfelt condolences to their families," he said while addressing students of Kashmir University here. The Ambassador said the restrictions on travel to Kashmir were eased couple of years ago and it remains the same. "Of course, we tell our citizens to remain vigilant." There has been no change in the advisory on travel to Kashmir following the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru earlier this year, Steiner added. "There has been no change in the travel advisory. At least I would have known, if there had been one," he said. Germany was the first European country to modify its negative travel advisory on Kashmir in 2011. PTI