U.K. acknowledges India's concern on cross-border terrorism

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, OCT. 22. The British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Jack Straw today acknowledged India's concern over cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and said the larger ``struggle'' against terror would continue beyond the crisis in Afghanistan.

``I talk regularly to Jaswant Singh,'' he said in response to a question whether there was a move to address New Delhi's worries over Pakistan-sponsored violence from across the border. But he ruled out any British intervention on the Kashmir issue unless the two countries asked for it, and told a Pakistani journalist that it had been Britain's consistent position that it was a problem to be resolved by India and Pakistan themselves.

His remarks follow the Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair's statement last week that he recognised the ``feelings in India'' over cross-border terrorism - a statement welcomed by Indian diplomats here.

Mr. Straw, who was speaking to foreign correspondents at Downing Street, spoke of India's role in a post-Taliban arrangement in Kabul and said Britain would be working to reduce ``tensions and mutual suspicions between Afghanistan's neighbours'' in order to pave the way for a ``broad-based, self- sustaining government'' in the war-ravaged country. He said the United Nations should take the lead in the political process leading to a ``fully representative, multi-ethnic'' Government and it would need to work closely with States which share borders with Afghanistan or are ``very close to it, like India''. Others who would need to be involved in the reconstruction of Afghanistan included the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and others who have a close regional interest.

In an apparent reference to the Northern Alliance's bid for power, Mr. Straw made it clear that ``Mullah Omar and his faction cannot be simply be replaced by another narrow faction'' and a new regime must command the broad consent of the country's diverse ethnic groups. A post-Taliban regime must also enjoy the support of its ``neighbours'' and an understanding among them that they would not ``compete'' for influence in Afghanistan. His remarks echoed his speech here this morning to the International Institute of Stratetgic Studies in which he dealt at length with the ``future'' of Afghanistan which he described as a ``failed state''.

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Section  : International
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