27 August 2004	Friday	10 Rajab 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 26: The special committee of Parliament on Kashmir on Thursday called upon India to stop human rights violations and withdraw its armed forces from the held valley to enable Kashmiris to live a normal life.

The committee chairman, Hamid Nasir Chattha, also directed the Foreign Office to ensure that Pakistan's stand on Kashmir was not weakened or clouded by the Confidence Building Measures.

The committee observed that with the deployment of about 700,000 troops by Indian government, occupied Kashmir had been turned into a cantonment. It also took serious note of the visit of Pakistani scouts and a singer to Srinagar.

The foreign secretary, who was also present in the meeting, informed the committee that the ministry did not give any one permission to visit the occupied valley.

The committee stressed that the government should take steps to check recurrence of such events. Such moves are tantamount to hurting the sentiments of Kashmiri brethren, whose sacrifices in terms of lives, honour and property are matchless in the history of mankind, it observed.

The committee called upon the international community to pressurize India to stop its reign of terror unleashed in the held valley. It stressed that a movement for the right to self- determination, accepted by the United Nations in its resolutions, could not be termed terrorism.

It also decided to intensify its efforts to highlight the cause of hapless Kashmiris at the international level. A sub- committee was formed, headed by Hamid Nasir Chattha, to review the Terms of Reference of the Kashmir committee keeping in view the present day requirements.

Meanwhile, Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Amanullah Khan has called upon the people of Kashmir to join the 'Anti-Division of Kashmir Campaign' irrespective of their political, ideological or religious affiliations.

He was speaking to members of the District Bar Association Palandari (Azad Kashmir) and notables of the city in the District Bar Room (hall). Mr Khan said the governments of India and Pakistan had almost decided to change the ignominious line of control in Kashmir with some very small adjustments into a permanent border between the two countries.

He said India-Pakistan joint statement of January 6 neither made any reference to the Kashmiris' inherent right to self- determination nor accepted their will as a party to Kashmir issue whereas they were the most important and worst affected party.

Moreover, the issue was considered a bilateral one whereas it was an international issue. Mr Khan said separating Siachin and Wooler barrage issues from the main Kashmir issue was a treacherous act.