UK supports Kashmir resolution as per peoples’ wishes: British High Commissioner

Sir Richard Stagg, British High Commissioner to India, visited Kashmir recently and met with several mainstream and separatist leaders. He said the visit allowed him to see for himself the reality of life here and opines that the present situation was clearly a major impediment to exploiting opportunities of the region in full. The High Commissioner said that he was buoyed with the developments that took place in Islamabad on May 20-21 wherein the two countries underlined political will and determination to resolve all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir. He hoped the confidence building measures between the two countries would lead to concrete improvements in the lives of people on either side of the line of control. He said though United Kingdom remained committed to engagements in Kashmir in a very practical way through his government’s Conflict Prevention Pool, it was for the parties directly involved to determine the future course.In an interview with M Farooq Shah of the Greater Kashmir, Richard said that dialogue remained the best way option to solve Kashmir issue. Experts:

Was your recent visit to Kashmir the first and what was your impression?

Yes, it was my first visit to Kashmir. It allowed me to see for myself the reality of life for the people of Kashmir. The present situation is clearly a major impediment to exploiting the opportunities of the region to the full. My visit has, however, brought home to me how much could be achieved if the underlying difficulties are resolved.

What was the purpose of your sudden visit to Kashmir?

The visit has been on the cards since I took over about six months back, and took a lot of planning. The purpose was educational – to meet different political and social leaders from across the State and to gain a first hand impression of the people, culture, politics and issues in the conflict. I found it very helpful, and enjoyed meeting people very much.

The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office maintains that Kashmir remains an issue of importance to the United Kingdom, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. How concerned is the United Kingdom over Kashmir?

India-Pakistan relations and the issue of Kashmir remain of direct importance for the UK. But it is not for the UK to prescribe a solution. It is for the parties directly involved to determine through dialogue. We fully support the ongoing discussions between India and Pakistan and continue to urge both countries to seek a lasting resolution to the issue of Kashmir, one that reflects the wishes of Kashmir’s people.We are encouraged by the recent Composite Dialogue talks on 20-21 May in Islamabad. We hope that confidence-building measures between India and Pakistan will build on progress to date, and lead to concrete improvements in the lives of those on either side of the Line of Control.

The United Kingdom is supporting India and Pakistan to address the causes and impact of conflict in the region. Could you elaborate a little on that?

We remain committed to our engagement in Kashmir in a very practical way through the UK Government’s Conflict Prevention Pool. This continues to fund a number of projects which help those in India, Pakistan and on both sides of the Line of Control with their efforts to facilitate dialogue and address the causes and impact of conflict in the region.

World powers, your country included, have shrugged off their responsibilities on the pretext that Kashmir problem is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, letting the people here suffer in the tussle between the two elephants. Do you not think a more pragmatic approach could have assisted in hammering out a solution long back?

Dialogue remains the best option to solve the issue. A solution can be found only through dialogue: no other country can prescribe a solution. The UK supports the ongoing dialogue process between India and Pakistan, and a solution that takes into account the wishes of the people of Kashmir.

Situation in J&K 10 years from now on - is there hope for a solution and what guarantees can United Kingdom give?

I’m afraid that the United Kingdom cannot give any guarantees on what will happen in 10 years time! But we continue to urge India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue. We were encouraged to hear the remarks of Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, during his visit to Indian-Administered Kashmir in April, when he said that he hoped to put the past behind us, and to move forward with a sense of urgency, not inhibited by false fears or narrow agendas. I remember that he also said that he had been heartened by the very positive statements made by the Pakistani Government. We have also heard positive messages from Pakistani Prime Minister, Syed Gillani, who said that that he would promote “peace and brotherhood" with India. The Composite Dialogue talks on 20-21 May in Islamabad were encouraging, and we hope India and Pakistan will continue to build on this progress.

There's a travel advisory against visiting Kashmir. The government of Jammu and Kashmir has been trying hard to have it lifted, though without success. Do you not think the time's ripe to lift it?

The UK Government advises against all travel to or through rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir (other than Ladakh), and against all but essential travel to Srinagar. We advise British nationals intending to travel to Srinagar to do so only by air. The Indian Government clearly remains concerned about the security situation in Indian-administered Kashmir. The UK Government has a consular responsibility towards its citizens to provide them with the most accurate and current advice on the risks of travel to a particular region. We keep our travel advice under constant review.


The interview was published in Greater Kashmir, on July 5, 2008.