Crispin Blunt

Conservative Party | Reigate

Foreign Office questions

Mr. Crispin Blunt (Reigate): I note that in response to two recent written parliamentary questions the Foreign Secretary and his colleagues declined the opportunity to say that Pakistan is not a state sponsor of terrorism. However, despite all President Musharraf's efforts, the fact of the matter is that Pakistan Government agencies, including the Pakistan army, use artillery fire to cover the infiltration and extraction of terrorists from Kashmir. Should it not therefore be explicitly stated that Pakistan is a state sponsor of terrorism and that that behaviour must stop?

Mr. Straw: We have to make our own judgments about that, but I repeat what I said to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) - we acknowledge the undertakings that the Pakistani Government have given publicly about ending cross-border terrorism. We and the United States in particular, but the whole international community as well, look to the Government of Pakistan to ensure that those undertakings are properly carried out.