The India - Pakistan Crisis - Call for A Full Arms Embargo Now!


Demonstrate at Downing Street

Saturday 8th June 2002 - Noon – 2pm

With regular outbreaks of conflict and tension continuing to rise between India and Pakistan, there is an urgent need for an immediate and full arms embargo on the region. Whilst the UK government has sent Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to act as a peacemaker between the two countries, it has yet to take the obvious step of suspending all sales of arms and military equipment to the two governments. This sends a mixed message to the countries about the acceptability of their behaviour.

Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) is organising a demonstration to call on the government to act as a real peacemaker in this time of international crisis. Tony Blair’s government needs to:

1) order an immediate and full arms embargo on the two countries;
2) do all it can to reduce tension between the two countries;
3) urge Kofi Annan and the UN to broker a lasting settlement.

Whilst UK government spokespeople have said that they will look at each application for an arms export licence on a “case-by case basis” (implying that a de facto embargo is in operation) this really isn’t good enough. It seems that the prospect of the £1bn BAE Systems Hawk deal with India is clouding the government’s judgement on this issue.

We must have a clearly articulated arms embargo to ensure that UK does not further fan the flames of war in Kashmir.


Join us to call for a full arms embargo on India and Pakistan and for the government to act as a real peacemaker – not arms broker – to the region.

Downing Street
Saturday June 8th Noon – 2pm


Campaign Against Arms Trade: 020 7281 0297