EU refuses to mediate on Kashmir issue

Islamabad, Aug 23: The European Union has refused to mediate between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, and said that parties involved are capable of resolving the issue.

"We believe that the three parties involved including Pakistan, India and Kashmiris are capable of resolving the issue themselves.We will continue to encourage them to work to a peaceful solution acceptable to all," the EU Ambassador to Pakistan, Jan De Kok, said.

The EU desires that Pakistan has a civilian President and wants General Pervez Musharraf to shed his military uniform, because the President in uniform is not internationally acceptable, Kok said.

He said Supreme Court of Pakistan will resolve the issue of uniform, and if any legislation is needed then the next elected assemblies will make them.

Kok said the EU is closely following the political developments in Pakistan with great interest and cautious concern, and added that democracy is the only way forward to achieve long-term stability and sustainable development.

Commenting on upcoming general elections, Kok said that the people should be given a free choice and out of any outside influence to elect their future political leaders in the next elections.

On the issue of cleaning up the voter-list, he responded that the EU took up the issue of the voters list with the Pakistani authorities even before the Supreme Court took suomoto of the said list, The Nation reported.

ANI>