The United States has made it clear that it would not get involved in the Kashmir issue as part of its new regional approach for Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to the private Indo-Asian News Service on Saturday.
The news service quoted the Presidential National Security Adviser General James Jones as saying that Washington does not " intend to get involved in that issue (Kashmir)," when asked if the U.S. expected to address issues between India and Pakistan, particularly Kashmir, as part of its new regional approach.
Jones said that the United States "intends to help both countries build more trust and confidence so that Pakistan can address the issues that it confronts on the western side of the nation," according to the news service.
"But no, Kashmir is a separate issue," Jones was quoted as saying.
In a separate development, the chairman of a hard-line separatist group in India-controlled Kashmir, Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani, Friday said an unresolved Kashmir was a threat to the entire South Asia and urged world powers to help resolve Kashmir dispute.
The hardline leader was addressing a gathering in Sopore, 40- kilometers north of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian administered Kashmir.
"Kashmir resolution is essential for a peaceful South Asia. Super powers across world have to play a role in resolving all conflicts including. Kashmir dispute is a threat to world peace. World community has accepted that no issue can be resolved by bypassing Kashmir dispute," said Geelani.
Geelani who was in New Delhi undergoing treatment came to Srinagar Wednesday. Though Indian police tried to put him under house arrest but he managed to give slip to them to reach Sopur.
The aged resistance leader also appealed masses to boycott the coming Indian general elections.
"We don't have any option but to boycott elections. Voting is diplomatically exploited by India and projected falsely as a referendum. People who are elected through voting are morally corrupt. They cover the crimes committed by Indian troopers. It gives a notion at the international level that everything is normal in Kashmir, which is not true," said Geelani.
India is due to hold its general elections from April 16 to May 13
Regional elections in Indian-controlled Kashmir held last year recorded 60 per cent turnout despite the boycott call by separatists.
(Xinhua News Agency March 28, 2009)