British High Commissioner Mark Lyall-Grant has said that he believes that Kashmiris on both sides of the control line have become fed up with violence which achieves nothing but miseries and sufferings.
He said that confidence building measures (CBMs) are important for further improvement in the bilateral relations, and urged the leadership of India and Pakistan to continue confidence building measures.
"The people on both sides of Kashmir are fed up with violence because violence achieves nothing. Violence does achieves miseries and suffering," Gant said in his address at seminar a on 'Indo Pakistan Peace Initiatives and Kashmir-A British Viewpoint', organised by Kashmir Institute of International Relations.
He said: "We equally condemn the human rights abuses and militancy in Kashmir, as terrorism is unacceptable to Britain."
He said that UK government supports dialogues between Muzaffarabad and Islamabad and between Srinagar and New Dehli for the resolution of Kashmir conflict. "We are urging both countries to keep continuing the dialogues for the set-up of peace and resolution of issues including Jammu and Kashmir."
He said: "CBM are important and these should continue, whether it be bus service between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar or more liberal visa policy".
He said: "It's the responsibility of the leadership of both India, Pakistan and Kashmiris to play the role for an end to militancy in Kashmir."
Appreciating President Pervez Musharraf and former prime minister A B Vajpayee for their peace initiatives, Grant said he hoped that new government in India would keep continue the dialogue process with Pakistan.
He said that India, Pakistan and Kashmiris would have to find out the solution of Kashmir problem and no outside agency or country, including UNO, would intervene until all parties to the dispute ask for mediation.
Member of Legislative Assembly and chairman of Kashmir Institute of International Relations Ghulam Qadir said that the fate of peace process is not clear because of installation of new Indian government.
He said that non-inclusion of Kashmiris in peace process would be a tragedy and Kashmiris are not allowed to meet each other while people to people contacts are being made and delegations are being exchanged.
"Kashmiris have faced Congress governments for last 40 years but now the circumstances are changed and Kashmiris have suffered greatly for peace process," Qadir who is also secretary general of ruling Muslim Conference said.
British High Commissioner in his two-day visit to AJK capital visited refugee camps, called on President Muhammad Anwer Khan, Prime Minister Sikanadar Hayat Khan, and APHC leaders. The Counsellor of British High commissioner Peter Wordworth was also accompanying him.
In his visit to refugee camp near Muzaffarabad, Grant expressed hoped that India and Pakistan could find a peaceful solution of Kashmir dispute which would be acceptable to both countries and Kashmiris as well .
He added that President Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee have showed statesmanship and started peace process last year.
He accepted the responsibility of Kashmir dispute as a legacy of Britain.
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