HARIPUR: Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Sardar Masood Khan on Friday condemned the violation of human rights in the India-occupied Kashmir but opposed the option of war on Kashmir issue.

Addressing a Kashmir Solidarity Week function at the University of Haripur (UoH) here, the AJK president said there was no need to talk about war and complain about the world community’s role on Kashmir conflict.

“For making the nation strong, such narrative needs to be abandoned,” he said.

Mr Masood said Kashmiris were a big nation and needed to understand their international importance and potential.

“We have saved the state of Pakistan from all kinds of storms and made it an atomic power,” he said.

The AJK president said jihad was not qital (armed fight) and that it was one of the noblest doctrines in the world.

“When others are out to destroy your culture, kill your youth and molest your women, jihad is farz (compulsory),” he said.

He said Muslims shouldn’t discard the ‘doctrine of jihad’ under any circumstances and doing so would be tantamount to undermining their identity.

Mr Masood condemned human rights violation in the India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and said 14,000 Kashmiri youths were under detention and that Kashmiris were being killed and denied the right to living, employment and education only due to their Muslim identity.

He said India was afraid of Pakistan as it was shown by its acts of sabotage on Pakistan’s ideological assets, economy, political structure and CPEC and heavy deployment of forces on areas bordering Pakistan including occupied Kashmir.

The AJK president said for Kashmir liberation, a strong resolve was imperative instead of helplessness, hopelessness and complaints about the international community.

He said if Kashmiris wanted the international community to stand with them, they should stand up across Pakistan and occupied Kashmir to show the world that they’re huge and strong.

“You [Kashmiris] have to prove to the world that you are eligible for justice,” he said.

Mr Masood called for better interaction with members of international community for Kashmir cause. He urged students to develop advanced English writing and speaking skills.

UoH VC Prof Anwarul Hasan and AJK University VC Prof Kaleem Abbasi were among other speakers.

The AJK president also inaugurated Kashmir Desk in the UoH and attended the MoU signing ceremony between the UoH and University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2021