KARACHI, Jan 12: Speakers at a seminar here on Thursday stressed the need for finding an amicable solution to the Kashmir problem for ensuring durable peace in the region, saying that “Kashmir is Pakistan’s jugular vein”.

The seminar was held under the auspices of Jamaat-i-Islami on “Future of Kashmir, Apprehensions and Possibilities”.

JI Naib Amir Prof Ghafoor Ahmad, who presided over the seminar, said that peace could not be restored in the region unless a judicious solution to Kashmir problem was found. “Any deviation on the part of the rulers in Islamabad from the country’s principled stand on Kashmir would be regarded as betrayal with Kashmiri martyrs”, he warned.

Criticising the rulers for softening their stance and attitude at the negotiating table, he said that New Delhi continued to stick on its stand that Kashmir was an integral part of India.

Prof Ghafoor said that 0.7 million Indian troops were deployed in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir and they unleashed a reign of terror but failed to crush the freedom struggle.

He deplored that Gen Musharraf appeared to be the first Pakistani ruler who had deviated from the country’s principled stand on Kashmir, and noted that attempts were being made to put the on the back burner.

Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui told the seminar that “Pakistan cannot hand over Kashmir to the enemy”.

He warned the rulers against taking a U-turn in the Kashmir policy, saying that any such act would be detrimental to the solidarity and sovereignty of Pakistan.

Tariq Ismail pointed out that that Kashmir was a strategically, economically and geographically important territory for Pakistan, and observed that the proposals put forward every now and then on the subject seemed to have been aimed at leaving Kashmiris at the mercy of Indian occupiers.

Sajjad Mir said that Kashmir was not the issue of land or geography, but a part of the Ummah’s faith.