London:
The UK government on Wednesday reiterated its unchanged stance that the predicament in Kashmir remains an problem for India and Pakistan to come across a lasting political resolution to the problem.
Responding to a debate held in the House of Parliament complicated on the “Political situation in Kashmir”, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) minister Nigel Adams stressed that it is not for Britain to play any mediatory part in a bilateral matter.
“The government’s policy [on Kashmir] remains stable, it’s unchanged. We continue to believe that this is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution to the situation that takes into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people… as laid out in the Simla Agreement,” mentioned Adams, in his capacity as Minister for Asia.
“It’s not appropriate for the UK government to prescribe a solution or act as a mediator,” he mentioned.
At the finish of the debate held at Westminster Hall in the House of Commons, the minister created reference to the District Development Council (DDC) democratic elections held in the area in December final year, which Labour Party MP Barry Gardiner pointed out attracted the no cost and fair participation of more than 50 per cent of the nearby electorate.
And, responding to problems raised by cross-party MPs about the revocation of Article 370, which led to the creation of Jammu and Kashmir as Union Territories in August 2019, the minister welcomed the release of politicians held in protective custody and reports of broadband restrictions becoming lifted in the area.
“We understand some of these restrictions may have been relaxed, with broadband/internet partially restored along with some access to social media. This is welcome news, but more should be done…,” he mentioned.
The debate, organised by backbench members of Parliament led by Labour’s Sarah Owen, integrated the participation of cross-party British MPs, lots of of whom have a significant Kashmiri diaspora constituency base.
“The people of Kashmir deserve the opportunity to thrive and succeed, so more broadly we welcome the commitment that the Indian government has made to the economic and social development” of Kashmir, mentioned Adams.
India has categorically told the international neighborhood that the scrapping of Article 370 was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and quit all anti-India propaganda.
The Indian High Commission in London sought to highlight that due to the fact final year, a clever wi-fi project has enabled higher-speed net access in the area and that in spite of threats of terror attacks, difficult climate circumstances and the Covid-19 pandemic, landmark DDC elections have been concluded in December 2020.
“J&K has not only normalised since August 2019 but is actually progressing on a positive trajectory of optimism and development in all sectors,” a High Commission truth-sheet notes.
(This story has not been edited by employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)