ISLAMABAD – Britain Foreign Office Minister Mark Field has revealed thatback-channels between military functionaries of Britain, India and Pakistanhave been active.
Britain is engaged in talks at the United Nations on efforts to calmtensions between India and Pakistan, Hindustan Times has reported.
Mark Field, Foreign Office minister, who left for India on Thursday, toldthe House of Commons that diplomatic, military and other channels werebeing worked to help de-escalate the tense situation between the twocountries.
Several MPs with large Indian and Pakistani diaspora joined a lengthydebate in the House of Commons, after Prime Minister Theresa May expresseddeep concern.
Field said talks were taking place at the United Nations over thesituation. “It is a fluid situation and therefore, I cannot go intospecifics regarding the UN other than to say that feverish conversationsare taking place there, albeit while trying to instil a sense of calm,” hesaid.
“I have to say that I have encountered over the last two mornings ablizzard of diplomatic telegrams from Islamabad, New Delhi and, of course,New York recognising the huge amount of work going in from our diplomaticservice in trying to keep open lines of communication and trying to speakto individuals in the military and at the political level,” he added.
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Field also revealed that back-channels between military functionaries ofBritain, India and Pakistan were also active.
“The UK has back-channels with both the Indian and Pakistani military, andI am well aware that conversations have already taken place and will nodoubt continue at pace,” he said.
Responding to persistent demands for London to play a greater role, Fieldreiterated the long-standing policy “that it is and must be for India andPakistan to find a lasting political resolution to this situation, takinginto account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
It is not for the UK to prescribe, intervene or interfere with a solutionor to act as mediator”.
