NEWS

EU snubs pro-Pak Kashmir lobbyist

July 05, 2006 14:55 IST

The European Union has snubbed a pro-Pakistan lobby actively campaigning against India for alleged human rights violations in the valley.

According to senior EU officials in Brussels, the 25-member Union has asked the Kashmiri lobbyists to delete any reference to the EU in their activities.

"We understand that these lobbyists have been running a website called kashmireu.org. we have asked them to take out any reference to the EU. We have nothing to do with the so-called website," the officials added.

The posters about the website are, however, still plastered across this capital city of Belgium, the headquarters of the EU.

The officials said these would also be removed in due course of time.

They said the EU wanted to consolidate its multi-faceted relationship with India. It would not like any irritants like the controversial website to come in the way of strengthening this partnership.

However, the officials were of the view that India must also increase its lobbying at the EU and make every effort to project a true picture of the happenings in the valley.

"The Pakistanis are more focused... they are far more engaged. Lobbying does work at the EU," they added.

The officials said the EU had not taken a position on the Kashmir issue as a body.

Asked if the Kashmir issue had affected India's image in the EU, they said 'that is the intention of some of the pro-Pakistan Kashmiri lobbyists. However, the issue had never been in the forefront of EU activities'.

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