07 February 2004	Saturday	15 Zilhaj 1424

QUETTA, Feb 6: All-Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders announced here on Friday that Kashmiri freedom fighters would not give up their struggle or compromise on the sacrifices of the martyrs who laid down their lives for the freedom of their motherland from Indian occupation.

Speaking at a press conference, APHC leaders Ghulam Mir and Dr Walid Rasool declared that a faction of the alliance that had held negotiations with the Indian leadership did not enjoy the backing of the people of occupied Kashmir.

They rejected Indian government's allegation that the freedom fighters in held Kashmir were terrorists and maintained that the Kashmiris' resistance was indigenous, which could not be suppressed through violence.

They said the Kashmiri people fully supported President Gen Pervez Musharraf's efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue. They said Pakistan had always sought peaceful resolution of the dispute but India had sabotaged efforts in this regard.

They alleged that a faction of the APHC was being used by Indian intelligence agencies to divide the organization and create misunderstandings among the freedom fighters. But the people of the occupied valley knew the situation, they said.

They said the APHC led by Syed Ali Geelani was the true representative of the Kashmiri movement and it had rejected the Indian government's offer for talks aimed at isolating Pakistan in the International community. He said Mr Geelani had refused to enter into negotiations with the Indian government without the participation of Pakistan.

They alleged that the Indian leadership by inviting the Kashmiri leaders for talks wanted to weaken the movement and continue the occupation.

Replying to a question, they said the APHC leadership had trust in President Musharraf's efforts to resolve the issue peacefully and it would join the negotiations when Pakistan was satisfied that India wanted to resolve the dispute.

They claimed that India was misleading the International community and using delaying tactics to discourage the Kashmiri people, but its designs would be foiled.

They said the joint declaration issued after the meeting between President Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was a victory of the Kashmiri people as India had for the first time recognized Kashmir as a controversial issue.