UK for 'intensive' Indo-Pak dialogue to resolve Kashmir issue

Islamabad, Jan 17 (PTI) Britain has sought an "intensive
dialogue" between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir
problem, a day after New Delhi dismissed its previous attempt
to link the issue to terrorism in the region as "unsolicited
advice" on internal matters.

The UK would back an "intensive India-Pakistan dialogue"
for the settlement of the Kashmir problem, British Foreign
Secretary David Miliband told a press conference here Friday
night.

He was responding to a question on his comments in an
article in the British daily 'Guardian' published on Thursday
in which he sought to link the Kashmir issue to terrorism in
the region.

Reacting to his article, the Indian government had said
it did not share his views and did not need "unsolicited
advice on internal issues" of the country.

Miliband Friday night made it clear that the resolution
of the Kashmir issue "depends on India and Pakistan (and) not
Britain".

He said it was essential to tackle terrorism around the
world at its roots. In this regard, he said that terrorism
emanating from Pakistan is different from that in the Middle
East or Sri Lanka as "different disputes" were involved.

The Kashmir issue also figured in Miliband's parleys
yesterday with Pakistan Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani, who
welcomed the UK Foreign Secretary's article in "Guardian'.

The resolution of the "root cause of extremism" would
enable the Pakistan government to "effectively focus its
attention to tackle the threats of extremism and terrorism on
its western borders", Gilani was quoted as saying in an
official statement. PTI RHL
PMR