NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi
A delegation of the European Union on Friday met the government interlocutor on Kashmir, K C Pant, and indicated that the international community's anxiety to find a solution to the Kashmir issue continued even as there was some de-escalation of tension between India and Pakistan.
British High Commissioner Sir Rob Young also met Pant on Friday following Prime Minister Tony Blair's efforts to restore normalcy between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Confirming the meeting, a government official told rediff.com that while New Delhi was willing to discuss the Kashmir issue with Islamabad, "Kashmir was, is and will continue to be an integral and inalienable part of India".
"The EU's position on Kashmir is nothing new. It has been holding consultations with us on the issue for a long time and it knows what our position is," the official said.
He indicated that on January 12, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and president of the EU, Josep Pique, spoke to External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and the two discussed Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's recent address to his nation.
The official pointed out that Pique had unequivocally condemned terrorism and expressed solidarity with India over the December 13 attack on Parliament. The two also agreed to keep in regular contact, the official pointed out.
According to the official, the EU is willing to mediate between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. However, while Islamabad has been clamouring for third-party intervention, New Delhi has rejected the proposal.
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
Call India
