Jack Straw Will Not Meet Pervez Musharraf

Jack Straw, the British Foreign Secretary, met with his Pakistani counterpart Inam-ul-Haq in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. During the meeting, ways to reduce tensions between the rival nuclear powers in South Asia, India and Pakistan, were discussed. Jack Straw confirmed in a brief conversation with reporters before leaving Islamabad that the discussions revolved around bilateral relations, regional issues, including Kashmir. The British Foreign Secretary refrained from detailing the discussions, only stating that the situation on both sides of the Line of Control is significantly better than during his previous visit to the region in May. The Line of Control separates the two Kashmirs of India and Pakistan. Jack Straw expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his trip, although Pakistani sources indicated that the British Foreign Secretary's efforts to meet with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf were unsuccessful. Jack Straw denied reports that General Musharraf had treated him from a superior position and had refused to meet him. The British Foreign Secretary stated that his purpose for visiting Pakistan was to meet with the country's Foreign Minister. Jack Straw emphasized that it is in the interest of the people of India, Pakistan, and Kashmir to find a political solution to the long-standing 55-year-old issue. On Friday, Indian officials told the British Foreign Secretary, who was visiting New Delhi, that until Pakistan prevents the complete and permanent infiltration of militant Islamists into Indian Kashmir from the Line of Control and dismantles the camps supporting militants within Indian Kashmir, the existing tensions will not decrease further.