§ Mr. Fabian HamiltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what influence he is bringing to bear on behalf of the UK Government to stop the violence in Kashmir. [89893]
§ Mr. HoonAs longstanding friends of Pakistan and India, we are deeply concerned by the continuing fighting in the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir following armed infiltration across the Line of Control. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary and I, and our High Commissions in Islamabad and New Delhi, have urged both countries to work to lower tensions and to refrain from action which might escalate the fighting. We have reinforced our concerns in the EU statements of 27 May and 24 June and the conclusions on G8 Foreign Ministers on 31 May and heads of Government on 19 June.