June 17, 2002	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 5, 1423

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MUZAFFARARBAD, June 16: AJK prime minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan on Sunday said the impact of the steps to ease tensions between India and Pakistan was not being seen in Kashmir where there was no let up in civilian casualties in Indian shelling.

“The situation along the LoC in Azad Kashmir does not reflect the impact of the so-called steps to cool off tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi. There is no let up in Indian shelling of civilian populations in our area,” he said.

Speaking as chief guest at an exhibition of Kashmiri handicrafts, organized by the AJK Social Welfare and Women Development Department, and later answering reporters’ questions, the premier said Indian troops were still targeting the civilian populations in Azad Kashmir and killing women and children with impunity.

He pointed out that the shelling was also affecting the economy of the people residing not only along the dividing line but also quite far away from it.

“It is the season of cultivation these days. But, the Indian shelling is not allowing the farmers to do cultivation and earn livelihood,” he said.

Sardar Sikandar said Indian government was shelling deep inside Azad Kashmir to create harassment and lower the morale of the people. But, he added, residents of Azad Kashmir were fully aware of the evil intentions of the enemy and would not lose courage.

He asked social workers and volunteers of the NGOs to build trenches in residential areas and constitute defence committees to play their role in protection of the lives of the people.

“The present situation warrants for complete unity among our ranks,” he said.

The AJK premier said the tensions between India and Pakistan had rightly alarmed the whole world besides making Kashmir a flash point. But, he emphasized, the world should support the just and legitimate rights of the Kashmiri people, which had been usurped by India at the strength of its military might.

The world powers should pressurize India to peacefully resolve the dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiris, he said.

The PM said the statements of the US defence secretary and Britain’s foreign secretary regarding freedom movement in Kashmir were against the facts and reflected their “duplicity,” and were, therefore, unacceptable to the Kashmiris.