27 March 2003
Powell, Straw Condemn Massacre in Kashmir
(Joint statement calls for cease-fire and dialogue) (390)
In a joint statement, the United States and the United Kingdom
condemned the March 23 massacre of innocent civilians in Kashmir as a
"vicious and cowardly act."
The statement, released by the State Department on March 27, called
upon all parties to strictly respect the Line of Control (LOC) in
Kashmir, and said the Pakistani government should "fulfill its
commitments to stop infiltration across it," as well as discourage
acts of violence by militants in the disputed region.
The joint statement said that differences between India and Pakistan
could only be resolved "through peaceful means and engagement," and
urged both countries to immediately implement a ceasefire, and to work
for reduced tensions through the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC).
"The United States and the United Kingdom stand ready to help both
countries start a process aimed at building confidence, normalizing
bilateral relations and resolving outstanding differences, including
Kashmir," said the statement.
Following is the text of a joint U.S.-U.K. statement on the violence
in Kashmir:
(begin text)
Joint United States -- United Kingdom Statement on the Violence in
Kashmir
Secretary Colin L. Powell and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw
Washington, DC
March 27, 2003
The United States and the United Kingdom strongly condemn the massacre
of innocent civilians by terrorists in Kashmir on March 23. Nothing
can justify such a vicious and cowardly act.
The United States and the United Kingdom condemn all terrorism
wherever it occurs and whatever its purported justification. We will
continue to work with our partners to eliminate this scourge. Violence
will not solve Kashmir's problems. Pending the resolution of these
problems, the LOC should be strictly respected and Pakistan should
fulfill its commitments to stop infiltration across it. Pakistan
should also do its utmost to discourage any acts of violence by
militants in Kashmir. Both sides should consider immediately
implementing a ceasefire and taking other active steps to reduce
tension including by moves within the SAARC context. The differences
between India and Pakistan can only be resolved through peaceful means
and engagement.
The United States and the United Kingdom stand ready to help both
countries start a process aimed at building confidence, normalizing
bilateral relations and resolving outstanding differences, including
Kashmir.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
