New Delhi: India on March 28 welcomed the US-UK joint statement asking Pakistan to
stop infiltration and terrorist violence in Jammu and Kashmir saying it repudiated
Islamabad’s claim that It has no responsibility in continued acts of violence in the
state.
The statement by US Secretary of State Colin Powell and British Foreign Secretary
Jack Straw "is largely welcome", External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna
told
reporters.
"We understand from the US and UK governments that the statement was issued under
instructions from President George W Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair who were
meeting at Camp David," he said.
Apparently piqued by the strong attack by India on double standards in combating
terrorism, Powell and Straw sent a tough message to Pakistan putting the onus on it
to
end cross border terrorism while strongly condemning the massacre of 24 "innocent
civilians" in Kashmir on March 23.
"Nothing can justify such a vicious and cowardly act," the two leaders said.
India in the last couple of days has been lashing out at come Western countries
without naming anyone on their double standards in fighting terrorism in the context
of the US-led war on Iraq.
"Violence will not solve Kashmir's problems. Pending the resolution of these
problems, the LoC (line of control) 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,” it said.
PTI
