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Straw calls for 'free and fair' polls in J&K

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON JULY 10. The British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, has again called for "free and fair" elections in Jammu and Kashmir and the need for India to address the "human rights deficit" in the State.

Mr. Straw welcomed the Election Commission's decision to allow foreign diplomats, journalists and NGOs to monitor the voting, saying it would "strengthen the transparency of the elections". Calling it a "very important announcement", he said the security situation also needed to be improved so that people felt "free to vote".

Mr. Straw, who was speaking on BBC Online ahead of his visit to India and Pakistan later this month, reiterated that Britain would continue to remain "engaged" in efforts to reduce tensions in the region but finally it was for the two countries to resolve their differences. "Like the U.S., in this situation, we have influence but we don't have power... What we can do is to encourage both sides initially to take steps to de-escalate from the tension along the Line of Control and then, over time, encourage them to have a dialogue. In the end, there can only be an agreement if Pakistan and India will it. What we can do is try and create an environment in which that is easier." In answer to a question, he said the "first stage" to progress towards a resolution of the Kashmir issue was "free and fair elections". "In that context, I have welcomed the announcements by the Chief Election Commissioner of India of various steps which he has taken to strengthen the transparency of the elections, including an open invitation to foreign diplomats, journalists and those who are working for NGOs."

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