Kashmir (Hansard, 27 May 1999)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)
My Lords, we have no plans to ask the Secretary-General to report on the shelling across the line of control in Kashmir. As a friend of both India and Pakistan, we continue to urge both countries to work together, in the spirit of their talks in Lahore in February, to resolve the issues between them, including Kashmir. We have raised our 1043 concerns about the recent fighting with the Indian and Pakistani governments and will continue to follow developments closely.

§ Lord Avebury
My Lords, has the noble Baroness noted the concern expressed by the UN Secretary-General about the use of jet aircraft and helicopters in the military action across the line of control, which I believe is unprecedented in peacetime? Will the Security Council at least discuss this crisis so as to obtain an immediate cease-fire and, preferably, ensure that the report of the UN observers, who are on this cease-fire line, is published so that the responsibility for the military action which has developed over the past few weeks can be identified?
Further, would the Government also be able to suggest in a resolution to the Security Council that the artillery units, which are kept by both sides adjacent to the line of control, be withdrawn to a distance of at least 20 kilometres from that line? Should we not also suggest that a representative of the Secretary-General visit Islamabad and New Delhi at the invitation of those governments to see what further steps the UN can take, in pursuance of its peace-keeping function, to ensure that the conflict is brought to a quick end?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, the noble Lord has put forward these suggestions before; indeed, he was kind enough to share them with us in a debate that we had on the issue on 20th April. However, any offers of help in this situation, whether they come from the UN or from the friends of both countries who wish to help, must be acceptable to both countries if they are to stand any chance whatever of success. I am bound to point out to the noble Lord that his suggestions certainly strike Her Majesty's Government as being unlikely to find favour with either India or Pakistan. Her Majesty's Government are focusing on encouraging both sides not to escalate the military action, while seeking to find new ways of reducing the tensions and continuing the dialogues that both prime ministers began in February and which, I believe, received general support from the House when we discussed the matter on 20th April.

§ Lord Ahmed
My Lords, is my noble friend the Minister aware that since the recent air strikes with MI17 helicopter gunships backed by MiG fighters, aircraft from the Indian Air Force have caused more than 10,000 people from Dras and Kargil to leave the area and go to Ladakh because they have nowhere to go? Is she also aware that last year, when violations of the line of control took place, over 50,000 people moved from that line because of the continuous shelling from both sides? As a consequence, the people who suffer are the Kashmiri people. Does my noble friend agree with me that the showing of excessive force would lead to a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan and that only by resolving the issue of Kashmir, in accordance with United Nations resolutions, will this dispute be settled?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are, of course, well aware of 1044 the extremely worrying situation that is developing in Kashmir. I hope it will help if I give a little more detail of what we understand to be the position on the ground. Several hundred Kashmiri militants have crossed the line of control into India-held Kashmir. They are holding ground there to a depth of several kilometres and appear to be digging in. The area is mountainous and some of the militants' positions are located at about 17,000 feet above sea level. As my noble friend has pointed out, the Indians have responded by deploying a division of troops in the area and by carrying out air strikes. The fighting marks a worrying escalation in the conflict around the line of control.
It is important for everyone involved in this situation to act with as cool a head as possible. Accordingly, we have instructed our acting High Commissioner in Pakistan and our High Commissioner in New Delhi to urge their host governments to do everything that they can to calm the situation, to reduce the risk of escalation and to reiterate their commitment to seeking a peaceful solution to their bilateral problems. We made these points yesterday to the Pakistan High Commissioner in London.

§ Baroness Rawlings
My Lords, I welcome the fact that the Minister agrees the impetus for a just and lasting solution to the longstanding dispute over Kashmir must come from India and Pakistan themselves. Does the Minister consider that our influence in seeking to prevent the escalation of this most recent conflict by urging both India and Pakistan to resolve their differences and defuse the growing tensions in Kashmir through dialogue was in any way influenced by the Foreign Secretary's trip to the region in 1997 and the comments attributed to him at the time?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
No, my Lords, I do not believe that. As the noble Baroness knows, and as your Lordships discussed on 20th April, this tension over Kashmir has resulted in a conflict which has lasted for over 50 years. Sometimes the conflict worsens and sometimes it is in abeyance. The fact is that both India and Pakistan are well aware that we are ready to help if we are asked. However, we recognise that any offer of help, whether it comes from the United Kingdom, the United Nations or from whatever country or institution, has to be acceptable to both sides if it is to stand any chance of success. We continue to urge both sides to do everything they can to resolve their differences. As I said to the House when we discussed this matter in April, we also believe that any solution, if it is to last, must involve and must reflect the views of the people of Kashmir.

§ Lord Dholakia
My Lords—

Noble Lords
Next Question!

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, I think we must move on to the next Question.