BANBURY'S 5,000 Kashmiris have condemned the use of violence against innocent civilians.

The Kashmiris, who make up around 95 per cent of Banbury's Asian community, have called on all faiths to express outrage at the escalation of terrorist attacks on "soft targets".

The statement follows the alleged threat to aircraft at London's Heathrow Airport last month.

Representatives of the 100,000-plus Kashmiri community in the Thames Valley have passed a resolution urging its members to distance themselves from terrorism.

The resolution was passed unanimously at a meeting of the Kashmir European Forum of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire, held in High Wycombe last week.

It said that the executive committee of the forum expressed its sadness at the recent events surrounding the threat to aircraft, and pledged that it would work with all communities, local authorities, and other official bodies to create an environment where there can be greater understanding on international issues.

Alyas Ahmed, who represents Neithrop on Cherwell District Council, represented local Kashmiris at the forum.

He said: "Banbury has a large Kashmiri population with a history of tolerance working with the people of the town irrespective of faith.

"I hope Banbury people understand that we Kashmiris condemn the activities of a few misguided people."

James Elles, the Conservative Euro MP with special responsibility for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire, is chairman of the European Parliament's All Party Group on Kashmir and president of the Forum in the Thames Valley.

He also attended the forum, and said: "The very diverse communities in the Thames Valley have a long tradition of working together and if we support each other now, we can come through this and have even stronger ties.

"It would be wrong if one group is unfairly singled out or stigmatised because of the activities of a certain individuals."