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Kashmir focus of fight against terrorism: Britain

Britain on Friday said acts of terrorism connected with Kashmir have become the 'focus' of the fight against terrorism and supported India's demands on Pakistan to curb cross-border terrorism.

"Afghanistan is now on the way of being resolved. But Afghanistan was only the beginning. There will be no lessening of our efforts to tackle and combat terrorism wherever it occurs. There is so much focus at the moment on Kashmir and the acts of terrorism connected with it," British High Commissioner Rob Young told delegates at the 21st International Congress of Non-Resident Indians in New Delhi.

Referring to New Delhi's demands, he said: "What India has asked for of Pakistan is no less than what was required under the Security Council Resolution 1373 and nothing short of what is required by the international community as a whole."

He said Britain was "encouraged" by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's speech on January 12 but would look to see "full implementation of his pledges to deal firmly with anyone committing acts of terrorism and to put an end to cross-border terrorism."

Young said only dialogue, not terror, could solve issues like Kashmir. "And the starting point of any dialogue must be total and absolute rejection of actions such as those of October 1 (attack on Jammu and Kashmir Assembly) and December 13 (terrorist strike on Parliament)," he said.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair on his recent visit to India had said he viewed the attack on the Indian Parliament with every bit as much outrage as he would an attack on the Parliament in which he sits.

PTI

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