JEDDAH, 30 March 2005 — The Kashmir issue should be resolved taking into account the aspirations of the people of Kashmir and Pakistan, said Lord Nazir Ahmad, member of Britain’s House of Lords.
Talking to newsmen at a function at the Saudi German Hospital auditorium on Monday, Nazir said: “The Kashmir dispute can be settled if the UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite in the valley are implemented.” International pressure on any country will not help resolve the issue, he said.
“The global scenario has changed after 9/11. The world has been beset with many crises. The United States fears losing its influence in Asia given the rapidly increasing dominance of China. So, Washington wants better ties with India and intends to prop it up as a powerful country in the subcontinent.”
Regarding trade between Pakistan and India, Nazir said: “It will benefit India most because of its strong economy.”
To a question about erecting a wall on the Line of Control (LOC), Nazir said: “Pakistan should have taken this issue to the International Court of Justice. Had it failed to pursue the case, the Azad Kashmir government should have raised the issue at the ICJ.”
“Around 2 million Muslims live in the UK and there are approximately 1,500 mosques and 4,000 madrasas in the country,” said Nazir speaking about the condition of Muslims in the UK. He said there is no campaign against Islam and Muslims in the UK. Lord Nazir is here to perform Umrah.
