British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw has said Britain wants peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue, and will play its role in settling this longstanding issue as well as establishing peace in South Asia.
Jack Straw made this assurance in a meeting with the Leader of Opposition in AJK Assembly, Sultan Mahmood, who called on him at Blackburn.
The British Secretary of State informed him that he will be visiting Pakistan from March 3-5, 2004. Besides deliberating upon bilateral relations, he would also discuss Pak-India composite dialogue process in the backdrop of peace in South Asia and resolution of Kashmir issue.
Welcoming the ongoing Pak-India dialogue process, he agreed that Kashmiris are also most important party to the Kashmir issue who could not be kept away from the talk process.
Jack Straw said that wishes of Kashmiri people will have to be respected while making any decision regarding future of Kashmir for a peaceful resolution of the issue.
During the meeting, Sultan Mahmood briefed Straw about the latest situation in occupied Kashmir, gross human rights violations committed by Indian troops and need for the resolution of Kashmir issue in the framework of present regional and international situation.
Britain being fully aware of all the realities and historical background of this issue, is responsible to help resolve Kashmir issue, he added.
Only taking Kashmiris into confidence is not sufficient, he said and added, they must be included in the dialogue process.
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