Islamic Militants Threaten War on Pakistan over Kashmir
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Islamic militants fighting Indian forces in Kashmir will declare war on Pakistan if it weakens its traditional support for their jihad, their senior leader has warned.

Syed Salahuddin, leader of the United Jihad Council, an umbrella group of Kashmiri militant groups which includes the Lashkar e Taiba, said they had been fighting "Pakistan's war in Kashmir" but Islamabad now cares more about trade than jihad.

"We (militants) are fighting Pakistan's war in Kashmir and if it withdraws its support, the war would be fought inside Pakistan," he said in an interview with the Arab News.

His threat emerged as India and Pakistan's leaders prepare for talks in Islamabad on Monday on proposals to withdraw their troops from the disputed Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battlefield close to the Line of Control which divides Kashmir.

Salahuddin and other Kashmiri militant leaders fear Pakistan's leaders will withdraw its long-standing support for the military strikes against Indian forces in Kashmir as part of its diplomatic campaign to reduce trade barriers and ease movement between the old enemies. » | Dean Nelson, New Delhi | Friday, June 08, 2012

David Cameron: Britain Caused Many of the World's Problems
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Britain is responsible for many of the world’s historic problems, including the conflict in Kashmir between India and Pakistan, David Cameron has said.

The Prime Minister appeared to distance himself from the imperial past when he suggested that Britain was to blame for decades of tension and several wars over the disputed territory, as well as other global conflicts.

His remarks came on a visit to Pakistan, when he was asked how Britain could help to end the row over Kashmir.

He insisted that it was not his place to intervene in the dispute, saying: “I don’t want to try to insert Britain in some leading role where, as with so many of the world’s problems, we are responsible for the issue in the first place.”

His remarks about Kashmir were greeted warmly by the audience of Pakistani students and academics, but drew accusations from historians that the Prime Minister was wrongly apologising for Britain’s past.

Daisy Cooper, the director of the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, said: “This is typical of the UK’s schizophrenic relationship with former colonies where it is both proud and embarrassed about its past. The Coalition has said that it has big ambitions for a modern Commonwealth and the UK should stop being embarrassed about its colonial past and they should work with other countries to help improve their human rights.” » | James Kirkup, in Islamabad and Christopher Hope | Tuesday, April 05, 2011

David Miliband Accused of 'Arrogance' over Kashmir Comments
Photo of David Miliband courtesy of The Times
THE TELEGRAPH: The Indian Government has lodged a complaint about the "aggressive" and "arrogant" manner of David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, during a recent visit to the country.

Pranab Mukherjee, the Foreign Minister, revealed he had used diplomatic channels to convey his disquiet at statements about terrorism and the disputed regions of Kashmir and Jammu.

He said: "When the Foreign Secretary of the UK visited us, he shared his perceptions about the situations and I equally told him and all the interlocutors that this is your perception – we do not share with it.''

Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, has already been forced to deny reports he had personally written to Gordon Brown to voice his "disappointment" about Mr Miliband's behaviour during his trip there last week.

But a senior official spokesman confirmed that the Government had been irritated by the Foreign Secretary's attitude, adding: "He did not come across as the foreign minister of a friendly nation."

Mr Miliband's suggestion that resolving the Kashmir dispute would make India less vulnerable to attack was greeted with outrage in the Indian media, which accused him of meddling and appeasing terrorists. >>> By Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent | Wednesday, January 21, 2009

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