January 10, 2002	Thursday	Shawwal 25, 1422

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, Jan 9: Mohammad Ashraf Saraf, a leader of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, has called upon the international community to draw a clear distinction between terrorism and freedom movement.

The terrorism would have to be differentiated from just and legal struggle of Kashmiri people for the implementation of UN resolution, Mr Saraf said while talking to Dawn at a reception hosted by opposition leader in Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly and former prime minister Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry in honour of diplomats and ambassadors.

Had the Kuwaitis taken up arms against Iraqi army during its invasion of their country, would it have been termed terrorism or a freedom struggle, Mr Sarraf queried.

He said it was the obligation of the international community to get the Security Council resolution implemented. As regards the militancy in Kashmir, he said it would end the day India withdrew its 700,000 troops from the valley.

When asked about the allegations of cross-border terrorism against Pakistan, he said the number of Pakistanis involved in militancy in Kashmir was a fraction of Indian paramilitary forces present.

“We have a governor in Kashmir who is not a Kashmiri. Under the law he is not entitled to have property in Kashmir,” he maintained.

When invited to comment on the recent remarks of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, he said: “How can the Britain shrug off its responsibilities? The mess in the sub-continent was the creation of Red Cliff and Mountbaton.”