MUZAFFARABAD: A top Kashmiri Mujahideen leader on Sunday asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take the feelings of Kashmiris into account and avoid showing “unilateral tilt” towards his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

“Nawaz Sharif should show consideration for the feelings and sacrifices of Kashmiris. His unilateral tilt towards Mr Modi and exchange of letters and saris is hurting Kashmiris and impairing their cause,” said Syed Salahuddin, the chairman of the United Jihad Council (UJC), at a big gathering here.

The gathering was held under the aegis of UJC - an alliance of over a dozen militant groups fighting Indian rule in held Kashmir - to commemorate the sacrifices of 21 Kashmiris who were gunned down by the despotic Dogra regime outside Srinagar’s Central Jail on this day in 1931.

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Mr Salahuddin, who is also the supreme commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, stressed upon Islamabad not to take any decision that could neutralise the sacrifices of the Kashmiris.

“You should not take any decision against our will,” he asked Mr Sharif, adding: “We will never accept any such decision.”

He asserted that being a party to the dispute Pakistan was legally bound to materially support the struggling Kashmiris.

Mr Salahuddin also said Kashmiris would welcome “any force” that would help them eject Indian soldiers from their soil.

“If Al Qaida, Taliban or any other organisation or country extends a helping hand to the oppressed Kashmiris, we will welcome it,” he said.He said Indian army had let loose a reign of terror in Kashmir and 6,000 unmarked graves, daily killings, molestation of womenfolk and incidents of arson bore testimony to it.

“We do not have any say at any international forum. In such a situation, we are left with no choice but to greet anyone and everyone that can help us overthrow our enemy.”

The UJC chief said that Kashmir had no bondage with India, which was once again proved during Mr Modi's recent visit to the region under the protection of huge army contingents.

He asked India to give up traditional intransigence and instead grant Kashmiris their birth right to freedom or else it would disintegrate as a result of jihad.

He made it clear that Kashmiris fight against India at diplomatic, political and militant fronts would continue with full force till their last drops of blood.

He also seized the opportunity to renew his request to pro-freedom political leadership in the held Kashmir to forge complete unity in their ranks for the sake of the greater cause.

“Instead of raising assorted options and voices, the Hurriyat leadership should represent their oppressed nation with one voice,” he said.

Meanwhile, federal minister for religious affairs Sardar Mohammad Yousuf Khan has said the resolution of Kashmir issue was indispensable for a lasting peace in South Asia.

“Pakistan and Kashmir are part and parcel of each other and the people and government of Pakistan will continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to the freedom seeking Kashmiris,” he said at an official ceremony held earlier in the day to pay homage to the Kashmiri martyrs.

The federal minister said that Pakistan favoured meaningful dialogue and Kashmir issue topped its foreign policy.

“We are for cordial relations with our neighbours. Neither we intervene in the internal affairs of any other country, nor do we allow any other to intervene in our affairs,” he said.

AJK Finance Minister Chaudhry Latif Akbar also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2014