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UK favours end to cross-border terrorism
New Delhi, July 09: Maintaining that Britain would continue to engage India and Pakistan to de-escalate tension, its Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said the key to this was end of cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and more action by New Delhi to deal with human rights `deficit` in the state.
New Delhi, July 09: Maintaining that Britain would
continue to engage India and Pakistan to de-escalate tension,
its Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said the key to this was
end of cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and more
action by New Delhi to deal with human rights "deficit" in the
state.
"Our engagement is going to continue," he said making it
clear that "the resolution of the Kashmir issue lies in the
hands of India and Pakistan."
"It (British engagement) is a constant process but precisely what progress can be made depends on the realities on the ground and the key is an end to cross-border infiltration and then a climate in Jammu and Kashmir in which elections can take place," Straw told a television newsonline.
"And on the Pakistani side, action to deal with terrorist camps and on the Indian side more action to deal with the human rights deficit in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
Straw, who is visiting India and Pakistan later this month, welcomed the announcement by Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh of various steps he had taken to strengthen the transparency of elections "including an open invitation to foreign diplomats, for journalists and individuals working for NGOs." "It was a very important announcement which may help ensure that there is a proper focus on the fairness of elections. Of course that has to go alongside a security situation which needs to be improved if people are able to feel free to vote," he said.
Bureau Report
"It (British engagement) is a constant process but precisely what progress can be made depends on the realities on the ground and the key is an end to cross-border infiltration and then a climate in Jammu and Kashmir in which elections can take place," Straw told a television newsonline.
"And on the Pakistani side, action to deal with terrorist camps and on the Indian side more action to deal with the human rights deficit in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
Straw, who is visiting India and Pakistan later this month, welcomed the announcement by Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh of various steps he had taken to strengthen the transparency of elections "including an open invitation to foreign diplomats, for journalists and individuals working for NGOs." "It was a very important announcement which may help ensure that there is a proper focus on the fairness of elections. Of course that has to go alongside a security situation which needs to be improved if people are able to feel free to vote," he said.
Bureau Report