Washington: The US and the UK on March 27 strongly condemned the recent massacre of
24 Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir and firmly asked Pakistan to stop infiltration
across the line of control (LoC).
The US Secretary of State Colin Powell and the British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw
in a joint statement said Pakistan should also do its utmost to discourage any acts
of violence by militants in Kashmir.
The statement was issued under the heading "Joint United States-United Kingdom
Statement on the Violence in Kashmir."
Straw is in Washington for the summit meeting between US President George W Bush and
British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Strongly condemning the massacre of the Pandits in Kashmir, Powell and Straw said
nothing could justify such a "vicious and cowardly act".
The two leaders asserted that violence will not solve Kashmir's problems and that
India and Pakistan should consider immediately implementing a ceasefire and taking
other active steps to reduce tension including by moves within the SAARC (South
Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) context.
"The differences can only be resolved through peaceful means and engagement," the
statement said.
Following is the text of the joint US-UK statement on the violence in Kashmir issued
by US Secretary of the State Colin Powell and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw:
"The United States and the United Kingdom strongly condemn the massacre of innocent
civilians in Kashmir on March 23. Nothing can justify such a vicious and cowardly
act.
"The United States and the United Kingdom condemn all terrorism wherever it occurs
and whatever its purported justification. We will continue to work with our partners
to eliminate this scourge.
"Violence will not solve Kashmir's problems. Pending the resolution of these
problems, the LoC should be strictly respected and Pakistan should fulfil its
commitments to stop infiltration across it.
"Pakistan should also do its utmost to discourage any acts of violence by militants
in Kashmir. Both sides should consider immediately implementing a ceasefire and
taking other active steps to reduce tension, including by moves within the SAARC
context. The differences between India and Pakistan can only be resolved through
peaceful means and engagement.
"The United States and the United Kingdom stand ready to help both countries to
start a process aimed at building confidence, normalising bilateral relations and
resolving outstanding differences, including Kashmir."
The statement said pending the resolution of the Kashmir problem the LoC should be
strictly respected and Pakistan should fulfil its commitments to stop infiltration
across it.
PTI
