HL Deb 14 June 1995 vol 564 cc1791-3

3 p.m.

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they consider that a genuine political process can take place in the Indian-held part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir before the power to extend direct rule under the constitutions of Kashmir and India expires on 18th July.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)

My Lords, the Indian Government have now extended President's rule over the state of Jammu and Kashmir for six months from 18th July. They have made clear that they will try to hold state elections within that period. We would hope that such elections could provide a first step towards the genuine political process for which we have long called.

Lord Avebury

My Lords, if the Indian Government have been unable to stage elections during the five-and-a-half years of direct rule, and if at the end of that period approximately 5.5 million troops and paramilitaries are still in occupation of the territory and are committing serious abuses of human rights, why does the Minister have any confidence in the ability of the Indian Government to stage the elections during the next six months? Is she aware that every responsible leader of the people in the valley of Kashmir has denounced the elections and said that it is not possible to hold them under the Indian constitution because no one will take part?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, I understand the noble Lord's difficulty in respect of this matter but without elections I cannot see that there will be any catalyst for the political process that is needed in Kashmir. Elections are a possible means to an end; they cannot possibly be an end in themselves. One can only speculate what other solutions might be available. However, looking at the difficulties and reading the Kashmir report of March and April this year, it is difficult to see in what way this matter can otherwise be resolved. The noble Lord knows that if he has any bright ideas they will be welcome.

Baroness Blackstone

My Lords, does the Minister agree that whether the elections are held or not, further attempts at confidence building between India and Pakistan are needed if progress is to be made in resolving the Kashmir problem? In the light of the worsening relations between the two countries since the destruction of the mosque at Charar-E-Sharief last month, what steps have the British Government taken to try to foster improved relations between the two countries?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, the British Government deeply regret the destruction of the shrine and the loss of life. It may never be clear who was responsible. It was a tragedy that it should have happened. I agree with the noble Baroness about confidence building. That is why the Foreign Secretary discussed human rights in Kashmir with the Indian Foreign Minister as recently as 6th May and with the Pakistani Foreign Minister some time previously. We have also promoted a policy of openness with the delegation of the six European Union ambassadors who went to Kashmir in April and were given free access. Our High Commissioner in Delhi visited Kashmir at the end of May. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also visited Kashmir recently. We are discussing with the ICRC a possible role in Kashmir and we hope that that will be agreed soon. We are looking for many ways of building confidence so that the Kashmiris might resolve their problems in a peaceful way.

Lord Avebury

My Lords, is the Minister aware that on numerous occasions I have made suggestions to her colleague, Mr. Tony Baldry? They consist of an alternative to the electoral process, which is the encouragement and facilitation of a dialogue among the people of Kashmir so that they can express their opinions on the kind of constitutional status to which the territory should aspire. Does the noble Baroness agree that with half a million troops and paramilitaries in the territory, and with severe restrictions on freedom of speech, it is not possible to engage in such a dialogue and that the Indians should be persuaded to demilitarise the territory and to restore freedom of speech so that the Kashmiris can express their opinions?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, this is an extremely intractable problem because it is not a question simply of getting people within Kashmir to sit down and talk peaceably together. I have no doubt that if it were, it would have long since happened. I believe that the encouragement of dialogue within the Kashmir area is necessary. That dialogue must lead to a resolution of the problems. If the Kashmiris are united in their wish to secede from India, the difficulty is that they are far from united in what should happen after secession. That is the problem. There is a sharp division between those who support accession to Pakistan and those who want independence. There are some who actually want a link with India. Until those main groups can resolve their differences it is difficult for anyone from outside, with or without troops, to impose a solution.

Lord Weatherill

My Lords, is the Minister able to say whether there will be international observers at the elections, possibly Commonwealth observers?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, I believe that that is a good idea but no requests have yet been made and no decisions have yet been taken.