ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The United Kingdom Thursday called for an end to the recent violence in Jammu and Kashmir and urged both Pakistan and India to exercise restraint.
“Of course, we are concerned about the recent incidents on both sides of Line of Control in Kashmir and we call for end to violence,” British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said at a joint press conference with Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.
When asked about the gross human rights violations being perpetrated by the occupational forces in the Indian held Kashmir, the British Foreign Secretary said, “We encourage both sides to maintain a positive dialogue.”
Johnson said it was not for the UK to “prescribe a solution or mediate”.
“The long standing position of the UK is India and Pakistan to find a lasting solution to the situation in Kashmir, taking into account of the Kashmiri people,” he said.
“Look at this area, look at this incredible human potential of Pakistan and its neighbours, and then imagine what a future could be like if this was sorted out,” Boris Johnson said.
He said on both sides, there was a great economic, commercial potential with scope for penetration of goods services and capital.
“What an incredible boom zoom this would be. That’s the objective … the mutual syncretism of economies,” Johnson added.
