SRINAGAR, March 3: Kashmiris accused Pakistani political parties on Monday of turning their back on them and their struggle against Indian occupation after the Feb 18 elections.

Anger simmered in occupied Kashmir after PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari told an Indian television channel that relations between India and Pakistan should not be held ‘hostage’ to the Kashmir issue.

Mr Zardari angered Kashmiris when he said the two countries could wait so that future generations resolve the dispute in an atmosphere of trust.

“Zardari is ready to sell us to India like chickens,” said 25-year-old student Ghouse Mohammad. “I don’t expect much from other leaders, they want to please India.”

Furious at some of the statements, separatist groups in Kashmir said they would continue their struggle with or without Islamabad’s support.

“It looks like PPP is backing out, but let me (make) clear to Islamabad, with or without the support of Pakistan, our freedom struggle will reach its logical end,” said Shabir Ahmad Shah, a senior Hurriyat leader.

“We will continue our fight and occupation will not last forever.”

Few Kashmiris were enthusiastic about the restoration of democracy in Pakistan.

“Zardari and (Nawaz) Sharif are stooges of India, how can we expect support from them if they form a new government in Pakistan?” said Farooq Shah, a Kashmiri shopkeeper. “Gone are the days when Kashmir was Pakistan’s jugular vein.”

There has been little substantial progress on the Kashmir dispute since India and Pakis-tan launched a peace process in 2004. But violence involving freedom fighters and Indian soldiers has fallen significantly.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a hard-line Hurriyat leader, said Pakistan had abandoned Kashmir long before these elections. “It is not the future government ... after 9/11, the Pakistan government has taken a U-turn on Kashmir. Pakistan should do some rethinking and support the Kashmiri cause,” he said.—Reuters