LONDON: The British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, is flying to India on July 18 and on 20 to Pakistan to pave way for the resumption of direct talks between the two countries.
Besides working for peace in South Asia, Jack Straw would also discuss the sale of Hawk fighter jets to India despite some opposition at home.
The opposition Conservative Party is seeking an explanation from the Labour government over the proposed sale in view of the already heightened tension between India and Pakistan. About 70 members of the House of Commons signed a resolution expressing concern over the sale of the British Hawks to India, saying it is beyond India’s legitimate needs.
But the line of the government is that it has nothing to do with the negotiations regarding the proposed sale, as according to some officials, it is the British jet manufacturing firm, BAE Systems, which is engaged in talks with the Indian authorities.
As such, according to them, the involvement of the government would only come when the sale is agreed between the British firm and the Indian government, and an export licence is needed to go ahead with the deal.
The deal involves the supply of 60 Hawk jets to India. As for as the sale of British Hawks is concerned, it is a matter between India and Britain, but indeed Islamabad would be curious to know about the extent of the proposed deal.
An official of the Foreign Office confirmed that the proposed defence deal could come under discussion with the Indians, though it is not a priority. He said the main purpose of the visit is working for peace in South Asia.
The easing of current tension between India and Pakistan is extremely important, but unless the thorny issue of Kashmir is resolved, there could be no lasting peace in the region.
At one point India has to be convinced that Kashmir is an international issue and it has to be resolved through the United Nations. Unless the Kashmir dispute is resolved, the threat of an armed conflict between these two nuclear powers would always be there.
OSAMA: The recent claim by a London-based editor of a well known Arabic newspaper that Osama bin Laden is alive and has recovered from shrapnel wounds sustained in the US attack in eastern Afghanistan has not come as a big surprise for the international coalition against ‘terrorism’.
The United States and Britain have time and again said that Osama as an individual is not a big threat any more because the Al Qaeda network has already been paralyzed. If a new video showing Osama alive is released, it indeed would not be less than a setback to the coalition that despite the use of paramount force to destroy Al Qaeda is still unable to eliminate or capture its leader.
Abdul-Bari Atwan, editor of the London-based Al Quds Arabic newspaper, told a news agency recently that Osama’s associates had informed him that their leader was in good health, but would not appear on video until Al Qaeda had launched another attack on the US.
But this is no proof that Osama is alive and in good health, and there is no way to verify Atwan’s claim.
The American officials say they have no evidence Osama was wounded, but acknowledge it as a possibility.
Though some US officials privately acknowledge that he may be alive.
In London the claim by Atwan has not been taken seriously though the government and the British people are equally curious about the fate of Osama.