09 May 2004	Sunday	18 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

MUZAFFARABAD, May 8: A Britain-based Kashmiri leader has claimed that many British parliamentarians are convinced that Kashmiris must be given their right to self-determination for a durable peace in South Asia.

"Peace is the priority number one of the West and settlement of the Kashmir issue is sine qua non for the establishment of peace not only in South Asia, but also in the whole world," said Mahmood Riaz, president of the UK-based 12-member All Party International Kashmir Coordination Committee.

Speaking to Dawn here, he said the resolution of Kashmir was equally essential for the business interests of the West in the South Asian market of over one billion consumers.

He said the elections for the European Parliament and local councils in Britain were scheduled for June and a number of Pakistanis and Kashmiris were among the contestants.

"But generally we have made our vote conditional to the candidate's support to our cause."

Mr Riaz, who also heads UK chapter of the Muslim Conference, expressed the hope that the peace overtures in South Asia would help resolve this lingering problem.

"Indian leaders must realize that the peacefully settled Kashmir goes more in their interest, leading them to utilize resources for the alleviation of poverty in India."

He praised President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for taking bold steps to help resolve the core issues.