FOURTH ASEM FOREIGN MINISTERSf MEETING DECLARATION 
ON THE INDIA-PAKISTAN SITUATION 
Madrid, 6-7 June 2002 


ASEM Foreign Ministers expressed their deep concern over the deterioration of 
India-Pakistan relations during the past month. The increasing tensions between 
the two countries, accelerated by the recent military build-up along the borders 
and lines of control, have implications for the whole region and beyond. 

Ministers condemned terrorism as an enemy of peace and expressed their 
sympathy for its victims. Ministers called for an immediate end to all terrorist 
activities in the region as a first step to de-escalate the situation between India 
and Pakistan. While welcoming its commitment to counter terrorism, Ministers 
earnestly looked to Pakistan to take urgent further steps to implement it. 

Ministers urged India and Pakistan to take all necessary steps to defuse tension, 
and to reverse the present spiral of confrontation with unpredictable 
consequences. In this context, Ministers called on both sides to resume 
immediate dialogue and to strengthen their cooperation to overcome the current 
crisis together, and resolve the dispute through peaceful negotiation and they 
called upon the international community to strengthen efforts in easing tension in 
the region.