LAHORE, Jan 14: British Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn says his country is ready to 'facilitate' the (recently revived) dialogue between Pakistan and India on all issues, including Kashmir, if requested.
"What we've said is that we stand ready to offer facilitation, if requested," Mr Benn told a crowded press conference at a hotel here on Wednesday.
British High Commissioner Mark L. Grant was also present at the press conference which rounded up the secretary's first three-day official visit to Pakistan.
"We're ready to give any kind of assistance and support to the process of dialogue between Pakistan and India for the resolution of all outstanding issues, including Kashmir," he said in reply to a question.
"Pakistan and India have taken the initiative (to revive talks). Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Musharraf have decided that it is the direction to be taken," the secretary replied to a question.
In his opening statement, he said Britain welcomed the courage and determination shown by President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in agreeing to a process towards resolving the Kashmir issue.
"The UK government and the international community stand ready to encourage and support this process as both the countries begin talks to secure peace and stability," he said.
In reply to a query regarding heavy military spending by both India and Pakistan, he said: "It was for the governments to decide their priorities for spending." However, he added, more should be spent on health and education.
"The path of dialogue (taken by the two countries) is going to take pressure off on (their) spending in certain areas and enable them to focus more of their resources on health and education and the desperate need to reduce poverty," Mr Benn said.
He told the reporters that he had congratulated both President Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali for the successful holding of the Saarc summit and resumption of dialogue with India in his meetings with them in Islamabad.
COMMONWEALTH: Describing the recently concluded agreement between the government and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on the controversial Legal Framework Order, Mr Benn said it was a significant step on the path of democracy and would help Pakistan return to the Commonwealth.
He said the constitutional agreement was a significant development for democracy and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw had also welcomed it. In reply to a query, he said the matter of Pakistan's return to the Commonwealth was with its Ministerial Action Group.
In answer to yet another question regarding the return of true democracy in Pakistan, he said the agreement (between the MMA and the government) was an important step along the way to revival of full democracy in Pakistan. "This process must continue. It's a process we are encouraging and supporting," he underlined.
BRITISH MUSLIMS: Mr Benn said the Muslim community in the UK that also included a number of people from Pakistan and Kashmir was "a significant part of the British life".
He told a reporter that Pakistan and the West were "confronted with terrorism and all of us are interested in tackling it". He said: "The Muslim community in the UK is also playing its important part (in the war on terrorism)."
Talking to private TV channels after the press conference, the secretary said the attempt on the life of President Musharraf was an effort to derail the country from the path of democracy.
