UK for 'intensive' Indo-Pak dialogue for Kashmir

Britain has sought an "intensive dialogue" between India and Pak to resolve the Kashmir problem, a day after New Delhi dismissed its previous attempt to link the issue to terrorism in the region as "unsolicited advice" on internal matters.

Britain has sought an "intensive dialogue" between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir problem, a day after New Delhi dismissed its previous attempt to link the issue to terrorism in the region as "unsolicited advice" on internal matters.

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The UK would back an "intensive India-Pakistan dialogue" for the settlement of the Kashmir problem, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband told a press conference in Islamabad last night.

He was responding to a question on his comments in an article in the British daily 'Guardian' published on Thursday in which he sought to link the Kashmir issue to terrorism in the region.

Reacting to his article, the Indian government had said it did not share his views and did not need "unsolicited advice on internal issues" of the country.

Miliband last night made it clear that the resolution of the Kashmir issue "depends on India and Pakistan (and) not Britain".

He said it was essential to tackle terrorism around the world at its roots. In this regard, he said that terrorism emanating from Pakistan is different from that in the Middle East or Sri Lanka as "different disputes" were involved.

The Kashmir issue also figured in Miliband's parleys yesterday with Pakistan Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani, who welcomed the UK Foreign Secretary's article in "Guardian'.

The resolution of the "root cause of extremism" would enable the Pakistan government to "effectively focus its attention to tackle the threats of extremism and terrorism on its western borders", Gilani was quoted as saying in an official statement.