British Foreign Secretary's Visit to Pakistan and President Musharraf's Speech - 2002-05-27

Jack Straw, the British Foreign Secretary, called for an immediate end to the existing tensions between India and Pakistan, which have brought these two rival nuclear powers of South Asia to the brink of war. Mr. Straw stated that the military mobilization of both countries due to their disputes over Kashmir could spiral out of control and potentially lead to a nuclear war. He mentioned that such a war would result in death, destruction, disease, and economic disaster that would affect many parts of the subcontinent for years to come. The British Foreign Secretary made these comments today following a meeting with his German counterpart Joschka Fischer in Berlin. Mr. Straw is set to arrive in Islamabad tomorrow for talks with Pakistani leaders and then proceed to New Delhi for discussions with Indian officials. Meanwhile, the President of Pakistan today pledged not to initiate war with India but promised to continue supporting what he called the freedom struggle in Indian-administered Kashmir. In a televised address to the people of Pakistan, Mr. Musharraf urged the international community to pressure India to reduce border tensions and normalize relations with Pakistan. India has accused Pakistan of aiding and arming Kashmiri rebels and has deployed tens of thousands of troops along its border with Pakistan to pressure Islamabad into stopping the flow of terrorists into Indian-administered Kashmir. General Musharraf did not alleviate India's concerns in his speech today, stating that Pakistan would always stand by the Kashmiris. The fate of Kashmir remains the primary point of contention between India and Pakistan.