July 27, 2002	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 16,1423

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

SAN FRANCISCO, July 26: The Pakistani-American National Alliance, a coalition of five major Pakistani American organizations, has told the United States Secretary of State, Colin Powell, that a durable peace in South Asia would not be possible unless the Kashmir dispute was resolved, and that US interest in that part of the world were threatened by the issue.

This came in a letter the PANA delivered to Mr Powell, who is scheduled to visit India and Pakistan on July 27 and 28.

The letter pointed out that if Kashmiris were loyal to, and respected by India, then no amount of support by Pakistan could create an insurgency, but, it is the underlying brutality of direct rule by New Delhi that has alienated the Kashmiris.

“We need to emphasize that respect for both human rights and the right to self-determination is an American priority in Kashmir.”

The Pakistani-American National Alliance stressed that the situation between the two nuclear neighbours remains volatile as over a million men remain mobilized and deployed near the international border and line of control.

The letter was signed by its coalition members: Dr Muhammad Suleman, President, Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America, Dr Ahmed Ali, President, Council on Pakistani-American Affairs, Dr Nisar Chaudhry, President, Pakistan American Congress, Dr Agha Saeed, Chairman of the Board, Pakistan American Democratic Forum, and Dr Pervaiz Shah, President, Pak- Political Action Committee.

The PANA has launched an organized a nationwide campaign to stop anti-Pakistan legislation introduced by Rep. Frank Pallone on July 17 in the US Congress.

At the same time, the PANA is working to revive the Congressional Caucus on US- Pakistan Relations.