November 29, 2002	Friday	Ramazan 23, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 28: Austria has urged the United Nations and the European Union to use their influence to bring India to the negotiating table for resolving the Kashmir issue with Pakistan.

“There is no military solution and India will have to settle this important issue by holding talks with the Pakistani authorities,” Austrian Defence Minister Herbert Scheibner said here on Thursday.

“We recognize Pakistan’s point of view for holding dialogue with India and we support political solution of Kashmir issue as it cannot be settled militarily,” Mr Scheibner, who had arrived here on Wednesday, said.

Talking to reporters at the airport before leaving for Kabul, the Austrian minister said that the UN must play a predominant role to get the Kashmir issue solved as early as possible. “I think I should not use the word pressure, but I would certainly say that both the UN and EU must persuade India to talk to Pakistan.”

He appreciated that the Pakistan government was calling for a dialogue with India at any level and any place. “UN should get itself involved in the Kashmir issue,” he said, adding that the EU could also help in crisis management. “India must accept the UN role in the resolution of Kashmir dispute,” he asserted.

Austria, Mr Scheibner said, had decided to strengthen political and defence relations with Pakistan. Two weeks ago, he pointed out, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Aziz had visited Vienna and, “today I met him again to expand our military cooperation”.

“My visit is continuation of my previous visit a few months ago and the purpose is to have extensive exchange of views on security matters, training of soldiers and enhancing peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and elsewhere,” he said.

“I have been given a very good briefing here on Kashmir and Afghanistan,” Mr Scheibner said, adding that his visit would also help him understand Pakistan’s views on international security and what was happening in Afghanistan and the region.

He said both countries had decided to cooperate with each other against terrorism and smuggling of drugs and illegal immigrants.

The international community, he said, had been focusing more on Iraq due to which adequate attention could not be paid to Afghanistan in recent weeks. “But there is a need to keep an eye on Kashmir conflict and security environment in Afghanistan, specially the warlords there.”

Answering a question, the Austrian minister said the international community should stop making only promises for the reconstruction of Afghanistan as there was a need to do something practically.

He said that three heads of prominent Austrian companies were accompanying him for holding talks with their Pakistani counterparts. He said he would return from Kabul on Friday and would be meeting Pakistani officials again before leaving for home.

He also foresaw cooperation with Pakistan in telecommunications and other fields.

In reply to a question, he said he did not believe that the victory of religious parties in elections should be a matter of concern for the West and added that President Pervez Musharraf was playing a very wise role.