Author: IANS
Publication: The Times of India
Date: September 29, 2003
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow?msid=207277
An influential British MP says the
continuing insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir "could not have happened without
Pakistan at the very least turning blind eye to what's going on".
Peter Luff, the assistant chief
whip of the Conservative Party in the House of Commons, said he had seen
"quite persuasive evidence" of the Pakistani government's support for terrorism
in the state.
Luff is leading a 10-member delegation
of MPs on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir. He is also chairman of the Conservative
Parliamentary Friends of India group.
He held that while the Kashmir dispute
was an issue that India and Pakistan should resolve bilaterally, there
were certain "international consequences" - for instance the support terrorists
received from third countries - that would have to be resolved in a global
fora.
He also drew a parallel between
the situation in Kashmir and in Northern Ireland, but did not agree with
the Indian government's stand that India-Pakistan talks could begin only
after Islamabad stopped sponsoring cross-border terrorism.
Responding to a question on the
extent to which he felt Pakistan was supporting terrorism in Kashmir, Luff
said: "There is no doubt the totally unacceptable levels of terrorist activities
being experienced in Jammu and Kashmir could not have happened without
Pakistan very least turning blind eye to what's going on.
"We saw quite compelling evidence
that suggests there is quite a level of support coming from the Pakistani
government in terms of training facilities, providing covering fire to
infiltrators, provision of arms ammunition...quite persuasive evidence.
"It is clear that what is happening
here could not happen without Pakistan very least allowing it to happen
and they should not be doing that," Luff said in an interview.
"They can't fight terrorism on one
border and then permitting it to happen or even encourage it on another
border," he said in a reference to Pakistan's support to the US in the
war against terror in Afghanistan.
Luff agreed it was for India and
Pakistan to bilaterally resolve the Kashmir dispute - but the international
community would still have to get involved.
"It's right that India and Pakistan
should sort out the future of Jammu & Kashmir. But terrorism often
requires more than just two countries to sort out the problem. We have
evidence that the terrorist themselves were coming not just from Pakistan
but also from other Arab countries as well.
"I suspect that ending terrorism
in Kashmir may require more than just India and Pakistan to sort the problem.
Certainly, I think we need to put pressure on Pakistanis to end their support
for the terrorist activity at whatever level their support is at. And that
can't be done just by India.
"I think it's important for the
international community to tell Pakistan that it must do more to deal with
the situation. Issues that have international consequences can't just be
left to India and Pakistan. I think that it would be Indian view too. They
will welcome that support to pressurise Pakistan."
He added, "I think it's very important
that a proper dialogue happens between India and Pakistan on other issues
as well. And a relationship of trust is built between the two countries.
I know it's easy for me to say it from outside, I realize the complexities
of that. But I do think that a dialogue a between India and Pakistan must
continue. What is happening is unacceptable, but if it is just a stand
off and people shout at each other, the situation is likely to get worse
than any better."
