Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 28
Ahead of a rare visit to India by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, its Parliament was told by Foreign Minister Ann Linde that her country sought a long-term political solution that must involve the locals in order to avoid any escalation of the situation in Kashmir.
King Gustaf will be in India for five days from next Monday, his second visit in 26 years, accompanied by a business delegation and a diplomatic component that will be headed by Linde herself.
While answering a question in Swedish Parliament, Linde said the situation in Kashmir was “worrying” and referred to the Sweden and the European Union (EU) line of supporting a “bilateral political solution through contacts between India and Pakistan”.
“We emphasise the importance of respect for human rights, that an escalation of the situation in Kashmir is avoided and that a long-term political solution to the situation must involve Kashmir’s inhabitants. Dialogue between India and Pakistan is crucial,’’ she said in a written statement.
Sweden is the third EU nation after Germany and Finland to comment adversely on the restrictions in force in J&K and to seek a dialogue with the Kashmiri political class. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Finland Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto had made the observations during their recent visits to India.
Swedish ambassador Klas Molin in an interview had sought access for diplomats to J&K in order to assess the situation themselves.
The Swedish Royal couple’s visit will be the fourth high-level bilateral interaction since 2015 that includes two Presidential visits and PM Narendra Modi’s trip to Stockholm.
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2QXMTkW
via Today’s News Headlines
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