International
Germany plans rights campaign in Afghanistan
By R. Gopalakrishnan
BERLIN, DEC. 8. Germany is well aware of the need to attack the root causes for the spread of terrorism, be it in Afghanistan, Jammu and Kashmir or anywhere else and towards this end it would emphasise the respect for human rights, including women's rights as a basic strategy, Foreign Ministry sources said here.
As a follow-up to the military action in Afghanistan by the U.S-led coalition, Germany will campaign for a human rights dialogue and the need to implement minimum standards, including in the case of women who have been the worst victims of more than two decades of civil war in Afghanistan, Dr. Michael Fernau, deputy head, South Asia division of the Foreign Ministry, said.
Talking to The Hindu on Friday, Dr. Fernau said the other components of the anti-terrorism strategy would include development assistance-linked efforts aimed at eradication of poverty and illiteracy.
Referring to the phenomenon of terrorism in the context of India-Pakistan relations and the Jammu and Kashmir issue, he said Germany's message to both countries was the same: activate confidence-building measures, including respecting the existing de facto international borders, irrespective of how they are called - line of control or line of actual control. ``This is an absolute prerequisite for any solution to the (territorial) dispute between the two countries'', he said.
Germany's specific message to India was that the problem of Jammu and Kashmir ``cannot be solved through repression and India should appeal to the heart and mind of the people of Jammu and Kashmir''. While Berlin wanted the restoration of democracy in Pakistan, it also desired that both India and Pakistan try to keep their border more open to enable increasing exchanges of people and goods.
Some major mechanism, be it SAARC or any other, should be used in South Asia to promote discussion on differences, including security matters. This would be a valuable tool, considering the European experience in building peace and security over a few decades. The ``neglect'' of even existing confidence-building mechanisms such as no-flight zones or hotlines between India and Pakistan had led to the shooting down in 1999, of a Pakistan (reconnaissance) plane carrying personnel and flying over Indian territory, he said.
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