December 12, 2003	Friday	Shawwal 17, 1424

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KARACHI, Dec 11: British Minister Mike O’Brien, while welcoming the moves to normalize relations between Pakistan and India, has called for a durable resolution of the Kashmir issue.

He was speaking to members of the Karachi Council on Foreign Relations, Economic Affairs and Law here on Thursday evening.

He said private sectors of both the countries were making efforts to increase bilateral trade. “We will extend 200 million pounds aid to Pakistan over the coming months.”

Later, answering question, the minister said the UK wanted to see Pakistan “quicker as member of Commonwealth Council, as it is an important member of the organization.”

Referring to the bugging of the Pakistani mission in London, he said that the stated position of the UK government was that it could not confirm or deny the occurrence of the bugging.

Stressing the need for greater involvement of the Kashmiri people, Mr O’Brien said resolution of the Kashmir issue would enable South Asia to achieve its vast economic and development potential.

Urging South Asian business leaders to play their part in advocating peace, the UK minister said they should encourage politicians to seize opportunities before them.

Describing the Islamabad Saarc Summit as a historic opportunity, he said it should be used to galvanise South Asian trade relations. Mike O’Brien opined that the signing of the proposed Free Trade Area agreement would signal a commitment to regional prosperity.

He said that he had visited the Line of Control on Wednesday, adding: “Despite differences of opinion on the nature of the eventual settlement, all the Kashmiris I met are united in demanding progress aimed at achieving a durable resolution of the Kashmir issue. That is a goal we share.”

He was of the view that growth of extremism in any religion or society was an issue that concerned everyone.

Mike O’Brien said extremism was part of Christianity and many other religions, adding that paradoxically it was Islam that had a long tradition of tolerance. “Indeed, the lives of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the four Caliphs show us that Shura- consultation-democracy was implicit from the beginning,” he added.—Agencies