LAHORE, May 6: The Kashmir Action Committee Pakistan has expressed its concern over the Indian plan to establish an airbase at Awantipura in Anantnag district of occupied Kashmir.

In a statement issued here, the KACP said that it betrayed intentions of India not to resolve the Kashmir issue and continue its illegal occupation of Kashmir.

It said the airbase at an area of about 500 acres of land would have disastrous effects on the climate and environment and would pollute the entire Kashmir valley.

The committee said the plan would also displace thousands of persons from their homes besides destroying their agricultural land and orchards which provided them the means of livelihood.

The KACP expressed its solidarity with the people of Kashmir, particularly those of Awantipura area in opposing the plan and urged the world community, especially human rights organisations, to raise their voice against the plan.

Projects such as the airbase, Wullar Barrage, the hydro-power plants on the Kishanganga and Chenab rivers and the railway track from Jammu to Baramulla would further complicate the Kashmir issue and derail the ongoing peace process between Pakistan and India.

The committee also strongly condemned the killing of 34 Kashmiri Hindus in Doda this week.

A resolution passed by the working committee pointed out that the incident was a replay of the Chattisinghpura drama of March, 2000, when some 35 Kashmiri Sikhs were killed ruthlessly by Indian agents and the blame was put on “militants.” Five young men were killed in retaliation to that incident.

Later, an inquiry into the incident revealed that the five young men were innocent and the gruesome act was committed by Indian security forces themselves.

The incident had been cleverly timed just before the scheduled meeting of All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders with the Indian prime minister to weaken the position of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, it said.