NEW DELHI (PTI): The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) comprising six oil Sheikhdoms Friday said the Kashmir problem should be resolved in accordance with the Shimla accord but urged India to adopt a more assertive policy in preserving the status quo in the region.

Addressing a press conference here, the GCC secretary-general, Dr. Abdulla Bishara, said the Gulf region was like a “Tinderbox” and India had an important role to play in ensuring a regional security by virtue of being a regional power and a member of the United Nations Security Council.

Replying to a question, Dr. Bishara said he did not seek any contractual obligations from India in the defence field though the Gulf States were in the process of raising a strong army.

Expressing full satisfaction with the outcome of his discussions with Premier P.V.Narasimha Rao and other leaders, Dr. Bishara said his talks had removed misunderstandings which were caused by India’s support to Iraq during its occupation of Kuwait in 1991.

Dr.Bishara, a Kuwaiti citizen, in particular objected to then external affairs minister 1.K.Gujral’s visit to Iraq-occupied Kuwait and said it betrayed a departure from India’s well-established policy of respecting others territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Replying to questions, Dr.Bishara said the Kashmir question did not figure during his talks here.

We subscribe to the Shimla agreement,” he said adding that the problem had to be resolved in accordance with the agreement.

Dr.Bishara said India as a Security Council member should ensure implementation of the U N resolutions by Iraq.

The consequences of war should be reversed,” he observed.

He referred in particular to Iraq’s reluctance to release the Kuwaiti nationals and accept Kuwait’s sovereignty.

Dr.Bishara said the first lesson of the Gulf War was that states in the region ought to be militarily prepared to protect themselves.

He described the Iraqi regime as “helpless, hopeless and hapless.”

There would be no threat from President Saddam Hussein as long as his government was kept beleaguered and isolated, he felt.

Dr.Bishara was of the view that the president Saddam Hussein would not survive isolation and non-acceptability by the international community.

Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 28, 1992