ISLAMABAD, Jan 30: The people of Jammu and Kashmir will never accept the ceasefire line as the permanent border between India and Pakistan, Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan, former chairman of the National Kashmir Committee, said here on Thursday.

Sardar Abdul Qayyum was talking to a delegation of the human rights wing of the Muslim Conference led by its chairman Tahir Tabassum.

The former AJK prime minister and veteran leader of All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference said the Kashmiris were striving for their sovereignty and would not compromise on their dignity and honour.

More than 85,000 people have sacrificed their lives for the sacred cause of freedom and no power can now confuse their struggle, he said.

He said: “I did not even think that the ceasefire line could be made a permanent border”.

In 1977, the Kashmiri leadership, including Sardar Ibrahim Khan and K.H. Khurshid, had a long discussion with late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on this issue, he added.

Sardar Qayyum called upon Indian leaders to shun their adamant attitude and hold talks to resolve the outstanding Kashmir issue peacefully. Implementation of UN resolutions could provide better opportunities for resolving this issue posing a potent threat to peace and stability of the entire South Asian region.