Britain's Straw bids to soothe tensions in Kashmir

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was today holding talks with Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in a bid to ease the Kashmir crisis.

He flew to New Delhi last night following what appeared to be a frustrating meeting with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

The neighbouring nuclear rivals are being pushed towards war by their long-running dispute over Kashmir.

Mr Straw made it clear he was not satisfied by General Musharraf’s insistence that he was preventing cross-border incursions by extremists opposed to Indian rule in the disputed province.

‘‘President Musharraf is under no doubt about expectations of the international community to take action, as well as the action he already has taken, to crack down on cross-border terrorism,’’ Mr Straw said.

‘‘There is no doubt that in the past, Pakistan assisted those who they described as freedom fighters, but who the international community recognises as terrorists.’’

Mr Straw’s mission has been overshadowed by continuing controversy over arms sales to India and Pakistan.

The UK government faced Parliamentary questions about reports that an embargo had been imposed yesterday.

Answering the emergency question, trade minister Lord Sainsbury insisted no ban had been imposed.

He told peers that a ‘‘very close eye’’ would be kept on whether future sales broke rules against escalating tension in the region the arms were bound for.

But Liberal Democrat Lord Redesdale, who tabled the question, replied: ‘‘Isn’t the government going to have to choose between the role of peacemaker and arms broker?’’

The controversy has left BAE Systems guessing whether ministers might sanction a €1.56bn deal to sell 66 Hawk trainer jets to India.

The Ministry of Defence is also reportedly involved in trying to sell Sea Harrier jets, which are being scrapped on UK warships, to India.