The Hindu : Ending infiltration must for J&K peace: Blair

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 19, 2003

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Ending infiltration must for J&K peace: Blair

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD APRIL 18. The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, says that "ending cross-border infiltration" is essential to stop violence in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a rare and candid interview to the Pakistan English weekly, Friday Times, Mr. Blair has said that terrorist organisations — including the Laskhar-e-Taiba, the Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Harkat-ul Mujahideen — had been at the forefront of attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Violence will never solve the Kashmir dispute, it will only prolong it. And ending cross-border infiltration is essential to stop violence in Jammu and Kashmir". He was answering a question on what he meant when he asked Pakistan to stop "cross-border infiltration" in Kashmir.

"During the last decade, the nature of the conflict has changed as a result of the incursion of armed militants across the Line of Control," he told the weekly. Asked what role Britain could play in a possible resolution of the Kashmir problem, Mr. Blair said ultimately the issue would have to be resolved bilaterally.

``In the end, this dispute between Pakistan and India including on Kashmir can only be settled by bilateral negotiations. But it is a dispute with serious international implications, not least because any future military conflict could escalate to nuclear weapons use.

This would be devastating for Pakistan and the whole of South Asia. In such a dangerous environment it is imperative that both sides act with restraint and avoid inflammatory rhetoric. All who wish both countries well — and this certainly includes the U.K. — should do what we can to encourage them to find a solution through peaceful means and engagement," Mr. Blair has said.

The British PM has told the weekly that the territory of Kashmir had been the subject of dispute since independence in 1947 and there had been three major wars between India and Pakistan and a "bloody battle" in Kargil in 1999. "The people of Kashmir have been caught in the middle at a cost of tens of thousands of lives with many more displaced," he has said.

Asked if the resolution of Northern Ireland problem could be a model for India and Pakistan Mr. Blair has said that certain steps had been taken in resolving the Northern Ireland problem despite long and difficult negotiations. "Thanks to the courage of Northern Ireland's politicians and the support of its people, we have seen real progress towards a lasting and just peace. There are, of course, still real obstacles to overcome but anyone who visits Northern Ireland now can see the huge difference in everyday life there in the last decade. It has taken a great deal of patience, hard work and courage but Northern Ireland does show that generations of conflict, fears and suspicion can be tackled.

It has also required a real commitment to peace from both the U.K. and the Irish Governments to create the right framework for this progress.

"As to Britain's role in trying to create this climate over the Kashmir crisis, any offer of help must have the full support of all parties to stand any chance of success," Mr. Blair told the weekly.

Asked if Britain would play a bigger role in Central and South Asia or just tag along with the United States, Mr. Blair said the U.K. had strong ties to central and southern Asia which stem, not only from our shared past, but from the close relations.

He told the weekly that Britain remained committed both to promoting regional stability in south Asia and to Pakistan's long-term economic development. ''

Together with our United States, European Union and other partners, we will continue to engage and cooperate with our Asian friends and allies, bilaterally and in multilateral forums, not only on regional issues but in a global context too''.

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