Violence in the Disputed Kashmir Region Continues - 2002-05-22

Violence in the disputed Kashmir region continues - 2002-05-22. While violence in the disputed Kashmir region continues, President Bush has called for a reduction of tensions between India and Pakistan. Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, states that clashes between these two regional nuclear powers not only threaten the region but also divert attention from the international fight against terrorism. According to American officials, Richard Armitage, the Deputy Secretary of State, will visit both countries 'in the near future' in an effort to resolve the crisis. Jack Straw, the British Foreign Secretary, also plans to travel to the region next week. He says that war between India and Pakistan is a 'real possibility' and that the tensions between the two countries are a crisis that the world cannot ignore. Iran and China have also expressed their concerns regarding this issue. Kamal Kharrazi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, held talks with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Prime Minister of India, in New Delhi on Tuesday regarding the border tensions between India and Pakistan. Mr. Kharrazi then traveled to Pakistan to discuss the same issue with President Pervez Musharraf. Reuters reports that a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry has expressed hope that both sides will show restraint and resolve the ongoing crisis through peaceful negotiations.