May 25, 2002	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 12,1423

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SYDNEY, May 24: Australian Prime Minister John Howard says he will examine the possibility for a Commonwealth role in mediating between India and Pakistan to de-escalate the current border tensions.

According to reports reaching Australia from China, where the Australian prime minister is on an official visit, Howard and Chinese President Jiang Zemin discussed in Chongqing the worsening situation in the subcontinent.

The Australian media has quoted Prime Minister Howard urging both sides to show restraint. “They both will be losers if hostilities break out,” he was reported in Melbourne daily The Age.

ABC has reported him as saying that he understands the legitimate frustrations of both.

“Pakistan has proved to be a very loyal ally of the United States since the 11th of September. And General Musharraf deserves a great deal of credit for his enormous courage that he has shown under tremendous pressure. On the other hand, I can understand the concern of the Indians about attack,” he said.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says the Commonwealth may join with the US, Britain and others in making representation to both the Indians and Pakistanis.

“To the Indians, to continue to exercise the restraint that they have shown in recent months and to Pakistanis, not only to show restraint, but to continue to build their campaign in and around Kashmir, as well as elsewhere,” said Downer. However, he says at the moment Australia is not considering to send a Commonwealth delegation to India and Pakistan.