LAHORE, June 9: Governor Khalid Maqbool said on Sunday it was the responsibility of the international community to seek a permanent solution to the Kashmir dispute so as to save its people from Indian excesses.
He was talking to Bangladesh Foreign Minister Murshad Khan who called on him at the Governor’s House. The Bangladeshi ambassador to Pakistan and two diplomats accompanying the foreign minister were also present during the meeting.
The governor said without recognizing Kashmiris’ right to self-determination, the dream of a lasting peace in South Asia could not be realized. Pakistan was observing restraint despite instigations by India at the international borders and the LoC. But it wanted justice from the international community in the human issue of Kashmir, he said.
He said Pakistan was itself being subjected to international terrorism. The extremist Indian leadership had been perpetrating state terrorism in held Kashmir for the past 12 years whereas Pakistan had set the example of being at the forefront of fight against terrorists along with the international community.
He said Indian leaders, shedding the blood of Muslims and other minorities in Gujarat, Maharashtar, Utter Pradesh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, wanted to hoodwink the world by accusing Pakistan of terrorism.
The governor said the international community must not concentrate only on easing military tension between Pakistan and India. Instead, justice demanded the removal of the real cause of the dispute which was the grant of basic right to self-determination to the Kashmiris.
He said the day was not far when India could not avoid a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue despite being wrongfully proud of its military might. And this would happen because of the sacrifices by Kashmiri people.
Murshad Khan termed the recent conciliatory efforts by the Russian president and the US secretary of state a progress in the right direction. He said a permanent solution to the Kashmir dispute was in the interest of both Pakistan and India.
He said a crusade against poverty, illiteracy and disease could only guarantee the economic progress of 1.50 million people in South Asia.
He appreciated the steps taken by the Pakistan government for providing equal chances of progress to the women population, and stressed the need for strengthening ties between his country and Pakistan regarding their joint religious, cultural and trade heritage.
He said he had come to Lahore with the desire of visiting the shrine of Hazrat Data Gunj Bukhsh.
The governor welcomed the recent bonded warehouses related trade agreement between the two countries. He said the government had ensured effective implementation of the Zakat system and the economic revival of the poor in line with Bangladesh’s Gramien Bank welfare project.