JKLF blame world leaders for nuclear fall out

London (1 June, 1998)

The secretary general of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front JKLF (UK/Europe) has blamed the world leaders for the nuclear arms race in the subcontinent.

In a letter published in the Times, today, Azmat A Khan has said that the world community was responsible for the dangerous arms race because 'it had allowed Kashmir to become a flash point in the region'.

"Fifty years ago both India and Pakistan promised at the UN to withdraw from Jammu-Kashmir and let the people there decide their political destiny. No serious effort has been employed by world powers to resolve that issue. The world community is responsible for the dangerous arms race as it has allowed Kashmir to become a flash point in the region".

He urged that with the spectre of nuclear war raised in South Asia it is time to change old attitudes and take a proactive approach towards resolving the Kashmir conflict. Mr Khan pointed to the Northern Ireland peace-deal as an example of how protracted and difficult disputes could be resolved around a table.

Others taking part in the debate who had written to the Times included DR SCILLA ELWORTHY, Director, Oxford Research Group, and Lord Howell of Guildford.

JKLF secretary general has also written to the British foreign secretary, Robin Cook, and overseas development minister Clare Short regarding British aid program to India and Pakistan and Kashmiri concerns, some of which were printed in other newspapers this week. End