South Asia
CONFIDENTIAL
30. Herr Schlagintweit shared the British view that the Kashmir dispute should be settled bilaterally. The Indians deserved censure for human rights abuses and the Pakistanis for their interference. However he was not convinced that others in the EC were fully on board. In particular he had doubts about the Italians and Portuguese, and thought the French might be speaking with several different voices.
31. He was also concerned about the viability of democracy in Pakistan. He thought Nawaz Sharif was making progress with the economy but he had done nothing to
he had done nothing to improve the security situation and education, or strengthen the political structure.
32. Sir J Coles outlined what Dixit had said to
Dixit had said to the PUS on Indi an views on non-proliferation. Schlagintweit was unsighted on nuclear
matters.
33. Herr Schlagintweit agreed that there was little Britain or Germany could do directly to influence progress on Afghanistan. Another EC statement of support for the UN process was unnecessary, but should be made if it would help Benon Se van. He sympathised with Sevan's assessment of Najibullah as
of Najibullah as the most talented and powerful Afghan leader, although impossibly hampered by his politics and his past. He thought greater chaos would follow his departure. Sir J Coles said that we had financial provision to reopen our post in Kabul, but had taken no decision to do so. We would keep in touch with the Germans about this.
CONFIDENTIAL
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