Written answers

Thursday, 28 May 2009

Department of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Conflicts

3:00 pm

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made through the medium of the United Nations or other agencies towards resolving the conflict over the future of Kashmir. [21818/09]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The situation in Jammu and Kashmir continues to be fragile, despite improvements following the State elections in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in December 2008. I very much welcome the fact that these elections took place in a generally peaceful atmosphere. The elections resulted in the victory of the National Conference Party and the swearing-in of Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister in the State. Likewise, I welcome the fact that the more recent Indian General Election in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir also went off relatively smoothly and peacefully. I believe that the elections are indicative of the strong desire of the people of Kashmir to live in a society where politics rather than militancy determines their future.

A new government has also recently been elected in India with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh returning to power with a much strengthened mandate. This, along with the election last December of the new state government in Jammu and Kashmir, presents a fresh opportunity for India to focus its efforts on finding a solution to the problem of Kashmir, which has long been an obstacle to the normalisation of relations with its neighbour, Pakistan.

Developments in Pakistan, including the holding of democratic elections in February 2008, which ushered in the formation of a new government, and President Zardari's subsequent accession to office in September, had also augured well for an improvement in relations between the countries, and brought hope that progress might be made on resolving the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir.

Indications of the potential for an improvement in relations were evident in the outcome of a meeting in September last year between Prime Minister Singh of India and President Zardari, which included a pledge to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries and bring lasting peace to the region.

Unfortunately, the Mumbai attacks of 26 November provoked an increase in tensions between India and Pakistan and the suspension of the Composite Dialogue, a process established in January 2004 to address contentious issues between the two countries, including Jammu and Kashmir. As a result, there has been an absence of progress in efforts to resolve the conflict.

Any resolution of the conflict will be dependent on good relations between India and Pakistan, as well as political will on both sides. It is important that every effort be made by the two countries to resolve the issues which have fuelled current tensions. The United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) continues to serve in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Its mandate is to supervise the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The mandate does not include a political element.

Ireland, together with its EU partners, will continue to monitor the situation closely and encourage all constructive efforts to make progress on the issue.

Question No. 57 answered with Question No. 18.

Question No. 58 answered with Question No. 26.

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