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| September 23, 2002 | Monday | Rajab 15, 1423 |
Delhi would begin talks, hopes Nisar
LONDON, Sept 22: Information and Media Development Minister, Nisar A Memon, hopes India would withdraw its troops from the borders and open dialogue with Pakistan for de-escalation over Kashmir dispute.
Mr Memon, who also holds portfolio of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas, was responding to questions during a PTV Prime interview on Sunday.
He said Pakistan had to move its troops in response to the Indian jingoistic posture and it was capable of defending itself.
He said New Delhi was not only committing state terrorism in Indian occupied Kashmir but was also involved in some acts of terrorism in Pakistan.
During his address to the UN, President Musharraf again raised Kashmir issue. It also figured during his meeting with US President George Bush on the sidelines of the UN, he said.
Pakistan remained committed to extending political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir, struggling as they were for their right to self-determination under the UN resolutions.
India was not only killing Kashmiris but had not even spared its own citizens in Gujarat where it butchered over two thousand Muslims. Despite its carnage of Indian Muslims, it claims to be a secular country.
New Delhi, he said, was staging a drama of elections in occupied Kashmir, a ploy which it had tried in the past as well but had failed. The people of Jammu and Kashmir had refused to participate in the sham polls. The turnout had been miserably low, he said. The APHC had already boycotted them, he added.
He said India could no longer resist pressure for holding a plebiscite to give Kashmiris their right to self-determination.
He said India should pull out its troops and reduce tensions as it was in the interest of the two countries. It will also help Pakistan concentrate on its current task of fighting international terrorism.
President Pervez Musharraf’s “bold decision” to back international fight against terrorism was based on principles and was not a result of any deal reached between Washington and Islamabad, said the minister.
To a question, he said the accountability process would be continued by the incoming elected parliament to punish the corrupt people.—APP
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