January 16, 2003	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 12, 1423

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MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 15: AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan has said that the Americans should pressurize the United States to play its role in providing relief to the nations which were facing repression because of their just demand for right to self-determination.

He was speaking to a two-member delegation of Washington- based non-governmental organization International Center for Religion and Diplomacy on Tuesday.

The delegation, comprising ICRD president Douglas M. Johnston and senior vice-president Brian Cox called on him along with the AJK minister for finance, Shah Ghulam Qadir, at the Prime Minister’s House.

He recalled that the United States had supported the right to self-determination when it was pledged to the Kashmiris around 54 years ago. “But today the US does not take any interest in getting that commitment implemented,” he regretted.

The NGOs, like the ICRD, could play a pivotal role in the present circumstances, he said.

The PM said Islam was a religion of peace, tolerance and preached its followers to save the humanity and added: “It is Islam that categorically says that saving the life of a person is tantamount to saving the whole humanity.”