The Hindu : Front Page : Blair rules out intervention in Kashmir

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Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006
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Blair rules out intervention in Kashmir

Islamabad: British Prime Minister Tony Blair has ruled out his country's "intervention" in resolving the Kashmir issue. He said he has appealed to leaderships of India and Pakistan to find a way out on the "important matter."

"I have asked the leaders of India and Pakistan to resolve it [Kashmir]. India and Pakistan are two important countries of the region and in a few years would be powerful countries as well," he said when asked what his country was doing to resolve the Kashmir problem.

"I think it is with the leadership of the two countries to deal with this issue. This issue is very important for both countries, and we can't interfere; we should help in a partnership of India and Pakistan," Mr. Blair said in an interview to Geo TV here.

"I have tried to do anything I can to help this situation in the past. In the end it is going to be resolved by India and Pakistan. There was a hopeful side,'' he said.

Mr. Blair, who came on a two-day visit to Pakistan during the weekend which included talks with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in Lahore on Sunday, reminded the interviewer that the fact that he has asked the question on Kashmir towards the end of the interview also reflected a "hopeful side."

Support to Pakistan

Mr. Blair said his visit to Pakistan was aimed at good relations between London and Islamabad and to provide support to Pakistan in the health, education and development sectors.

"A few years back, I couldn't think of coming here and finding Pakistan in such a good position," Mr. Blair said.

— PTI

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