§ Mr. NellistTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about his recent visit to India; and what response the Indian Government has made to Her Majesty's Government raising of alleged human rights abuses, particularly in the Punjab.
§ Mr. HurdI visited India on 15 to 18 January. I had useful meetings with the President, the Prime Minister, and the Ministers for External Affairs, Home Affairs, Finance, Defence and Commerce. Our relations with India have improved and are in an excellent state, which enables both sides to speak frankly as between friends even about sensitive matters.
I expresssed strong support for the Indian Government's decision to hold elections in Punjab, and my hope that a similar political process could start in Kashmir. At the same time I criticised interventions from outside which promote violence in both places. On human rights, I emphasised the importance of greater openness in dealing with allegations of abuses and urged that Amnesty International be allowed access to report on the situation. 492W The Indian Government gave assurances that alleged abuses of human rights were all investigated, and noted my points about the need for more transparency.