UK for amiable solution of the Kashmir Issue: Mark Lyall
Pakistan Times Kashmir Desk

MULTAN: The United Kingdom supports the government of Pakistan, salutes and supports President Musharraf for the commendable role he has been playing in the war against terrorism, the British High Commissioner to Pakistan Mark Lyall Grant said in Multan during his two-day stay.

Grant said the United Kingdom has offered whatever help it requires-political, economic, bilateral, financial, moral to help resolve the Kashmir dispute, but it is not an issue a solution of which can be imposed from outside. Neither is the British government in a position to propose a support-specific option or a solution to Kashmir, he added.

"The solution should have to come from within, worked out by the two countries in agreement with the people of Kashmir," he said. "If a solution is imposed by the United Nations, United States or United Kingdom, it would not be sustainable or acceptable by both the countries and the Kashmiris."

"We will support any proposals, suggestions to solve the dispute acceptable to all parties but it is not for us to suggest any solution," he said.

Kashmir Issue

"The United Kingdom is encouraging both the sides to come together and discuss the problem through dialogue, and not violence. We are very keen and closely concerned about the Kashmir issue and its solution in the light of historical connections. We want to do whatever we can to resolve the issue between Pakistan and India," said Mark Lyall Grant.

The UK High Commissioner paid rich tribute to President Musharraf’s and former Indian premier Atal Behari Vajpayee’s statesmanship for playing a historic role by initiating the peace process.

Support to Musharraf

"We are impressed by the Musharraf government completely tackling extremism and bravely facing a lot of problems in return. Pakistan under the leadership of Musharraf has been playing a dynamic and important role in the war on terrorism since the coalition took action in Afghanistan and subsequently al-Qaeda moved across the boarder, creating problems for Pakistan. We strongly support the present Pakistani government, salute back and support back Musharraf," he said.

Asked about a possible solution to the Kashmir issue, he avoided the question, but said, "Many of them have been on Internet but I don’t know which solution can be successful. I have no knowledge."

"Our position is very clear on Kashmir. The United Kingdom organised events differently in 1947 and may be Kashmir was not a dispute at that time between Pakistan and India," he said.

However, it has become a core issue between the two countries, adding, "A large number of Kashmiris, about 800,000 of British origin, have been living in the UK. 500,000 of them belongs to the Pakistani part of Kashmir. In the United Kingdom, in many areas it has become a domestic and political issue while many Kashmiris belong to Jack Straw’s constituency."

The Bus Service

Responding to a query about launching bus service between Muzaffarabad-Srinagar, Mark said it would be very important link in strengthening mutual CBMs. The important step is taken since November 2003 of cease-fire and said it would lead to further strengthening the CBMs on both sides.

When suggestions on promoting normalisation of ties between Pakistan-India were sought, Mark said: "No suggestions", adding the United Kingdom would lay a meditating and facilitating role but he did not know it would be necessary or appropriate.

He said the UK has very close links with the Kashmiris living across both the sides of Line of Control [LoC] discussing, contacting and encouraging all sides to look forward to resolve this dispute.

There is no question about the Kashmir dispute, which is damaging both the countries in term of economic, social development also in term of image of sub-continent in the international community.

Economic Block of SAARC

Replying to another question, the high commissioner welcomed efforts for making economic block of SAARC countries and observed they have seen in Europe that the European Union has helped strengthening the economies of all the European countries.

The other examples can be seen in the world include Asean and South African countries union and these bodies can make dramatic economic prosperity of people of their regions. There is no reason like Saarc should not help in economic development of its countries, including the subcontinent

The UK government position is little bit different from some governments and they were looking at bilateral trade, which was $1.7 billion between the two countries.

UK Immigration Laws

Clarifying UK immigration laws, Mark said they were not fixed only for the Pakistanis but they were the part of worldwide immigration rules which apply on all people of different countries.

A large numbers of Pakistanis wants to go to the UK under different reasons, promoting trade investments, for study, business, settling, families and friends’ visits were exceptional.

The High Commission had processed 160,000 visas last year [2004] applications, which was huge increase compared to 2003's 90,000 and in 2002, 550,000 visas applications were processed.

"If you compare last years’ figures 1,60,000 to the next largest country in the world like the US that processed only 5,400 visas for Pakistan", he said.

The UK had processed three times of many visas compared to other countries in the world at the cost of facing potential problems in the way of issuance of Visas.

The Islamabad High Commission visa section has detected 500 forge documents during the two months of this year, in January-February, he remarked.●