Airstrip One

Why did he go?

Jack Straw has just completed his visit to India and Pakistan where both leaders failed to make space in their busy schedules for him. The BBC conclude that there is no sign of progress and Straw accepted the Pakistani claim that infiltration had lessened but it has not stopped.

Whilst the BBC could not bring themselves to use the phrase, snubbed, it is clear that neither India nor Pakistan sees much use for international diplomacy whilst their demands for an end to infiltration of terrorists and a dialogue to determine the future of Kashmir are not met. Moreover, as Great Britain had sold arms to India, the Pakistani media were unwilling to view this visit sympathetically.

War in Kashmir remains on the agenda.