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Gillani: no compromise on Kashmiri cause

ISLAMABAD: On his first visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani mixed rhetoric with pragmatism to dispel the impression that the Pakistan People’s Party-led government in Islamabad was about to put the issue of Kashmir on the back burner as it prepared to move forward on ties with India.

In an address to a joint session of the “Azad Kashmir” legislative Assembly and Council, Mr. Gillani called for an end to human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir and said his government was seeking “result-oriented” talks with India.

He expressed the hope that the composite dialogue process would soon yield results, and said the slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto had been supportive of the peace process with India.

The Prime Minister said his government stood for friendly relations with all neighbours including India, and wanted the Kashmir issue resolved through dialogue.

Pointing out that a ceasefire first declared unilaterally by Pakistan in November 2003 was still holding and noting the operation of a bus service between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar and the opening of entry points along the Line of Control to enable divided families to meet, Mr. Gillani said his government also wanted to see tourism and trade between the two Kashmirs.

But he sought to assure his audience that there would be no compromise on Kashmiri interests.

He reminded them that it was Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who had declared that Pakistan was ready to wage a 1,000-year war for Kashmir.

Lauding the “supreme sacrifices” made by the Kashmiris to achieve self-determination, he said these would not be allowed to go waste.

“Their struggle is not directed against anyone but is aimed at achieving the right to self-determination that was promised by the United Nations,” Mr. Gillani said. “This is a question of their rights and Kashmiris should get these rights.”

Later, talking to a delegation of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference of “Azad Kashmir,” Mr. Gillani said Pakistan would continue to extend “political, moral and diplomatic” support to the Kashmiri cause and continue efforts for the resolution of the dispute according to the aspirations of its people.

In this regard, the composite dialogue process with India would continue, Mr. Gillani said.

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