NEW DELHI: The shadow foreign secretary of the British Labour Party Gerald Kaufman on Thursday said a war between India and Pakistan would be tragic.
He said the Kashmir issue had figured in his discussions with Indian Prime Minister VP Singh and external affairs minister ILK. Gujral.
“If there is dissatisfaction among Kashmiris the matter ought to be dealt with in peaceful, nonviolent manner recognizing past decisions and agreements,” Kaufman added.
Kaufman said if the people of the violence torn Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir had genuine dissatisfaction then they ought to be heeded and attended to.
He said India and Pakistan should resolve all contentious issues under the Shimla agreement, signed in 1972 between the then prime ministers of the two countries, and not do anything that would destabilize the Region,
Under the Shimla agreement any issue between India and
Pakistan should be solved bilaterally.
Kaufman, who was recently in Amritsar and Chandigarh, welcomed the government of India’s desire to hold elections and end President’s rule in Punjab.
In reply to a question on attitude of a future British labour government towards anti India elements operating from British soil, Kaufman accompanied by shadow labour secretor Tony Blair, said no lawful activity would be suppressed even if it was offensive to a friendly country like India.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 20, 1990
