§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria Her Majesty's Government will apply to elections in Kashmir in respect of their being free and fair; and if he will make a statement. [21153]
§ Mr. BaldryWe shall be considering with our European partners how best to assess the forthcoming elections in Kashmir.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in relation to United Nations resolutions concerning Kashmir; and if he will make a statement. [21154]
§ Mr. BaldryBritain supported, and both India and Pakistan agreed, the United Nations resolutions of 1948 and 1949 which provided the basis for a possible solution to the Kashmir dispute, but neither side fully implemented those resolutions, which have to some extent been overtaken by events. The 1972 Simla agreement represents the most recent formal agreement between India and Pakistan on the handling of the dispute. It envisages settlement through bilateral negotiations or other peaceful means mutually agreed between them. We believe this to be the best way forward.