ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/7/2002 23 May 2002
Media Release by the Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Hon. Alexander Downer, MP
Tensions between India and Pakistan
I remain gravely concerned about the escalation in tension between India and Pakistan.
On my instructions, the Acting Secretary of my Department has called in the Indian and Pakistani High Commissioners to express Australia's great fears about the possibility of hostilities.
We have asked India and Pakistan to take all possible measures to reduce the tensions between them and to avoid hostilities. We have renewed our call to Pakistan to take urgent steps to ensure that its territory cannot be used to launch terrorist attacks against India.
The rise in tension between India and Pakistan will require a commitment to dialogue and strong leadership from both governments to avoid the consequences for their own communities of hostilities between them.
As nuclear capable states, India and Pakistan bear a great responsibility to the region and the international community to resolve their differences peacefully.
My Department is keeping our travel advice to both countries under very close review. Intending travellers to India and Pakistan are urged to consult the travel advisory at the department website.
For further information contact Rory Medcalf (First Secretary) tel. 6888 223, extension 197.