NEW DELHI: The British Prime Minister, John Major on Jan.25 suggested a three point formula to break the present deadlock between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.

“We believe the best way forward is through genuine political dialogue under the Shimla Agreement a political process and respect for human rights in Kashmir, and a cessation of external support for the militants there,” Major said while speaking at a banquet hosted by the Prime Minister, P.V.Narasimha Rao.

He said Britain was seriously concerned about the tensions between the two counties and “fears about weapons of mass destruction and military missile technology “We hope that India and Pakistan can find ways to break through the present deadlock and Start to resolve some of the fundamental issues which divide them. Chief of these is Kashmir.

Assuring India of Britain’s cooperation in curbing terrorism, Major referred to the landmark treaty between the two countries on extradition and the agreement On confiscation of assets and said “IT am determined that our successful record of cooperation should continue and I hope that we can look for ways of doing more in the related field of illicit traffic in drugs, scourge of all our societies.” In an apparent reference to Ayodhya developments, Major said that Britain was following the events with “sympathy and concern.” Every country, he pointed out had to find its own ways of resolving internal problems. In the changed global scenario, Britain was “readier now than ever before “to work with India as partners. Both the countries had a strong vested interest in successful economic growth and the world economy was moving nexorably towards greater economic inter dependence.

The far reaching changes India had been making, and would continue to make, were Opening up significant new opportunities for mutual business and investment The British businessmen were looking to see new opportunities for failure trade and investment, and would be watching closely the progress of the Indian economy, Major said.

 The central message Major wanted to give was that “Britain takes India very seriously.” What it now sought was arrange of areas “for true partnership in the pursuit of mutual interest.

The Prime Minister, Narasimha Rao said that both India and Britain recognized the threat to pluralist and democratic societies and nation States from religious fundamentalism and narrow ethnic chauvinism. These threats, he said, “need to be firmly countered through a renewed commitment to democracy and secularism, social justice, and a firm rejection of bigotry in any form” to ensure that sectarian irredentism did not threaten the unity and integrity of nations. He said the conclusion of the extradition treaty and confiscation agreement demonstrated a joint resolve to Cooperate in the fight against terrorism. “We, are both convinced that cessation external Support to terrorist actively is essential to promote the sustenance of the democratic political process.”

Article extracted from this publication >>  January 29, 1993