Mr HUNT (2:05 PM) —My question is also addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and it follows on from his answer to the previous question. I refer the minister to the current tensions between India and Pakistan regarding Kashmir and ask in particular: what are the implications of this dispute for international security generally? Could he outline the actions Australia has taken to assist the parties to achieve a resolution?

Mr DOWNER (Minister for Foreign Affairs) —I thank the honourable member for Flinders for his question. Many members of this House respect his knowledge and understanding of foreign affairs, particularly based on his experience working for the foreign minister—and a mighty fine job he did then. I have already explained in answer to the earlier question that the government is gravely concerned about the situation in South Asia. I have made the point, in particular, about our concerns based on the nuclear capabilities that both India and Pakistan have. It is important to remember also that the oral conflict that is taking place and the tensions as well as the possibility of real military conflict detract very seriously from the war against terrorism. I have taken the opportunity already to explain that we have upgraded our travel advice. We are also in the process of making a series of representations to both India and Pakistan about our concerns in relation to the level of tension.

Whilst we can understand the anger that India feels as a result of the recent terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Australia utterly condemns those acts. We urge India to continue to exercise the restraint that it has shown up until now. Can I take the opportunity, in answer to the honourable member's statement, to welcome President Musharraf's statement last night in which he reconfirmed his commitment that Pakistan territory would not be used to launch terrorist attacks against India or Indian interests. However, we urge Pakistan to continue to be vigilant in dealing with terrorist activities within Pakistan that may be focused on attacks against Indian assets or Indian individuals. Pakistan should not only do more, but should be seen to be doing more.

Australia has been active over the last month or so on this issue, as indeed we were before then. I was in India just a month ago and I had the opportunity to discuss our concerns about this issue with the Prime Minister, the Minister for External Affairs, the Defence Minister and the Minister for Home Affairs. During last week, I instructed the acting secretary of my department to call in the Indian and Pakistani high commissioners and explain to them our concerns about the situation.

Last night I spoke on the telephone to the Pakistani Foreign Minister, Abdul Sattar, and during that conversation he assured me that Pakistan would be doing what it could to try to crack down on terrorists and that Pakistan would be doing more in the next few days. Of course, the President's speech was made subsequent to that. In the course of this evening I will be speaking with my Indian counterpart and next week Australian officials will be visiting New Delhi for talks on security issues, including the question of the relationship between India and Pakistan. I think the government are proving to be extremely active on this issue. We are working very closely with the Americans, the Commonwealth, the United Kingdom and others in ensuring that a maximum international effort is made on the basis that that effort should be effective.