Britain for permanent solution to Kashmir

LONDON—Britain would continue to urge Pakistan and India to find a permanent solution to the long-pestering issue of Kashmir, said British Foreign and Commonwealth Office(FCO) here. “The UK Government will continue to urge the Governments of India and Pakistan to strive to find a permanent solution to all their differences, including over Kashmir,” said FCO in its letter while responding to a memorandum submitted by the Justice Foundation Kashmir Centre and other Kashmiri leaders to the 10-Downing Street in last week of October to elicit Britain’s support in seeking a just solution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with aspirations of Kashmiri people.
According to the Justice Foundation sources, the FCO letter received by it said “ It is not for the UK government to determine the nature of such solution. But any solution will need to take into account the views of the people of Kashmir.”
Britain has also warmly welcomed the “variety of Confidence Building Measures” taken by both Pakistan and India during the past year and a half. “The UK government also welcomes the decision of the Indian and Pakistani governments to open 5 crossing points on the Line of Control,” said the FCO letter.
The memorandum, submitted by Professor Nazir Shawl, Bostan Qadry, Mohammed Ghalib, Mohammad Sharief, Sardar Ali, Khan Farooq Khan and Javed Rashid to at 10 Downing Street, had made a fervent appeal to British Prime Minister Tony Blair to play a proactive role in ensuring success of the current peace process between Pakistan and India.—APP