Islamabad: British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said ending cross-border
infiltration of militants across the line of control (LoC) is "essential", as
violence would never solve the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan.
"Terrorist organisations including Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and
Harkatul Mujahideen have been at the forefront of the terrorist attacks in Jammu and
Kashmir. Violence will never solve the Kashmir dispute," he said in an interview
to 'Friday Times' weekly.
"Ending cross-border infiltration of militants is essential to stopping violence,"
Blair said, adding "During the last decade, the nature of the conflict (in Kashmir)
has changed as a result of the incursions by armed militants across the line of
control."
On how Britain proposed to solve the Kashmir issue, Blair said it should be resolved
through bilateral negotiations.
"In the end, this dispute between Pakistan and India, including on Kashmir, can only
be settled by bilateral negotiations between Pakistan and India. But it is a dispute
with serious international implications, not least because any future military
conflict could escalate to nuclear weapons use," he said.
He said such a conflict 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 UK – should do what we can to encourage them to find a
solution through a peaceful means and engagement."
Blair said Britain remained committed to regional stability in South Asia as well as
Pakistan's long-term economic development.
"Together with the United States, European Union and other partners, we will
continue to engage and co-operate with our Asian friends and allies bilaterally and
in multilateral forums, not only on regional issues, but in global context too," he
said.
Pointing out that Kashmir has been a subject of a "dispute" since India's
Independence in 1947, he said, "There have been three major wars fought 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."
On the Iraq war, Blair rejected the perception that it was war against Muslim
countries.
"I recognise some in the Muslim world who see the conflict in Iraq as a war against
Muslims, but it is not," he said, adding that Britain and US intervened in Kosovo
to "save" Muslims from Milosevic regime.
He said Muslims has a big role to play in Britain, adding his government was closely
working with various Muslims and other communities to ensure their education,
employment and housing conditions.
PTI
