US Pakistanis see no Kashmir solution

Published April 7, 2002

MANSEHRA, April 6: Ashraf Abbassi, Treasurer of the Pakistan American Congress (PAC) in the USA, has said there are no chance of resolution of the Kashmir issue, as India is a big power with more resources, and has strong lobby in the USA.

He said:” In the USA, we always remain preoccupied with our business affairs to the extent that we can not spare time even for our families, and for the same reason we fail in lobbying for the Kashmir issue in favour of Pakistan.”

Mr Abbassi was speaking at a press conference at the Circuit House here on Friday night, on his visit to Hazara Division with a PAC team, comprising its President Dr Nisar Chaudhry, General Secretary Syed Omar Bukhari and congress women wing Director Ms Alfridi Gill.

Mansehra District Nazim Mohammad Azam Khan Swati and Naib Nazim Shahzada Gustasap Khan were also present on the occasion.

When a reporter asked Mr Abbasi about the failure of the PAC in effective lobbying for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, he turned rude and said: “The people of Pakistan should be grateful of us that by sparing time from our busy routine, we have established the PAC in the USA.”

It was PAC which had sponsored US Congressman William Baker to visit the occupied Kashmir, where he spent two years, and on his return he wrote a book on the atrocities of the Indian forces against the Kashmiri people, Mr Abbassi said.

He said the successive governments in Pakistan did not seriously took the Kashmir issue, and used it merely as a slogan for prolonging their stay in power.

Both India and Pakistan sought resolution of the Kashmir issue according to their own wishes, while the Kashmiris had their own stand on their right to self-determination, which complicated the situation, he added.