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ISLAMABAD, Oct 13: AJK President Zulqarnain Khan has criticised a US official’s statement that Kashmiris should stop militancy against the Indian government.
He said that the US should play its role in persuading India to withdraw its troops and restore the fundamental rights of Kashmiris in the occupied valley.
The AJK president slammed the remarks of US Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicolas Burns. He said India was the biggest terrorist of the world that had usurped the rights of Kashmiri people by deploying 800,000 armed forces in the held Kashmir.
He said that the United States should keep in mind the sacrifices of thousands of Kashmiri people before supporting India. He said the policy of India was the major hindrance in restoration of peace in South Asia.
He said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s proposals for demarcation of region, self-governance, and demilitarisation were being commended across the globe. “We also support his stance,” he added.
Mr Khan warned that peace in South Asia would remain under threat and religious riots could erupt if Hurriyat leader Mohammad Afzal was hanged by the Indian government.
He linked end to militancy with the withdrawal of Indian forces from the occupied Kashmir.
MEETING: Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Attiq Ahmad Khan would preside over a high-level meeting on Monday to review Pakistan-India commencement of negotiation, progress of ministers in rehabilitation and reconstruction of quake-affected areas.
In the meeting, Eid package would also be discussed for quake survivors.
AJK PEOPLE’S PARTY: In order to reinforce and strengthen the Azad Jammu and Kashmir People’s Party, its central leadership has nominated Shafiq Awan as vice-president entrusting him with extraordinary responsibilities.
Talking to newsmen after his nomination in Muzaffarabad, Mr Awan said that he would make every possible effort to uphold the trust of the party’s leadership.
The decision of the central leadership has encouraged party workers, he said, adding that it was only the AJK PP, which distributed party tickets on merit basis keeping in view the political affiliation, services and efficiency.
He stressed the need to address the problems of quake-affected people.—Online
