§ Mr. DavidsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Governments of(a) India and (b) Pakistan about the deployment of landmines along their shared border. [66172]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing North (Mr. Pound) on 25 June 2002,Official Report, column 791W.
§ Mr. DavidsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current situation with respect to cross-border terrorist incursions into India. [66176]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThere are welcome reports that infiltration across the Line of Control has reduced in recent weeks. This has helped to reduce tensions in the region. But the situation still remains fragile. Pakistan must continue taking steps to bring about a permanent end to cross-border infiltration and militancy. And, in parallel, India must respond with further de-escalatory steps. As I said in the House on 25 June,Official Report, column 736, we want support for cross-border terrorism to stop and a verifiable end to infiltration as the first step towards reducing the current tensions. We want both Governments to talk through the issues that divide them and to talk to the people of Kashmir about how they want to go forward.
§ Mr. DavidsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his assessment of the sequence of activities required to decrease tensions in the South Asian region. [66175]
635W
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe have welcomed recent moves by India and Pakistan to reduce tensions in the region, but the situation there still remains fragile. Pakistan must continue taking steps to bring about a permanent end to cross-border infiltration and militancy. And, in parallel, India must respond with further de-escalatory steps. We have also made clear our concerns about the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the importance of holding free, fair and inclusive elections there in the autumn. Although India and Pakistan can only resolve their differences by direct bilateral dialogue, the international community can help by remaining fully engaged.