European Parliament calls for action on Kashmir

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 26th Oct 2001

Baroness Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat MEP for London, has welcomed the call by the European Parliament for the EU to make a bid to end the 50-year dispute between India and Pakistan over the future of Kashmir.

MEPs supported a proposal that the EU should offer its services to both sides as an "honest broker" in order to demonstrate the EU's wish to see a resolution of the conflict and to assist in the fight against terrorism.

The disputed territory has been described as "the most dangerous place in the world" because of the simmering conflict which has twice erupted into war between the two nations, both of which now have a nuclear capacity.

United Nations resolutions dating from 1948 and 1949 called for the future of the divided state, which has a majority Muslim population, to be determined by a plebiscite of the people. However they also called first for the withdrawal of all troops, which neither Pakistan nor India have been prepared to implement. The situation is complicated by regional differences and a growing independence movement.

Sarah Ludford said:

"It is important that the European Union is seen to be taking the initiative. It could play an important role in making both sides consider a fresh approach. Peace - as we have found over the last half-century here in Europe - brings prosperity. The people of Kashmir deserve both."

The resolution approved today by the European Parliament reads: "[The European Parliament] renews its call for a peaceful negotiated solution to the Kashmir question, appeals to the Council to use its influence on the parties to the conflict, India and Pakistan, to help bring this about, and asks the EU to take the initiative by offering its services as an honest broker to both India and Pakistan with a view to facilitating the process and demonstrating the European Union's wish to see a resolution of the dispute and to assist the fight against terrorism."