Mehmood Saghar terms Indo-US joint statement as misleading.
Islamabad: Voicing his serious concerns over the Indo-US joint statement the APHC convener Mehmood Ahmed Saghar has said that it was quite unfortunate that the joint statement makes no mention of the Kashmir dispute, Indian state sponsored terrorism, human rights violations and arbitrary arrests and unlawful imprisonments of thousands Kashmiri prisoners who continue to languish in Indian jails and detention centers.
Terming the joint statement as misleading, the APHC convener said that it was most regrettable that the country (US), which has been a cosponsor of the historic UN resolution that acknowledged Kashmiris’ right to self determination and granted legitimacy to Kashmir issue, turned a blind towards the abysmal situation in the held territory that continues to reel under India’s relentless and brutal repression.
Saghar while referring to the USA’s stand on the Kashmir dispute, said being a strong proponent of the Kashmiris’ right to self determination the American has always sought and supported a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute through dialogue and diplomacy.
He said that America still supports the UNSC resolutions calling for a referendum in the region.
So far as the issue of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen is concerned, Saghar said that the US should differentiate between a terrorist and freedom movement.
“Hizb is an indigenous Kashmiri resistance organisation whose sole agenda is to liberate Kashmir from India’s illegal occupation”, he said, adding that the Hizb that has never been engaged in unlawful activities has been working under the ambit of the UN character.
“As per the UN charter Kashmiris have a legal right to armed resistance, the APHC leader said, adding that Kashmiris’ ongoing struggle that has been going on for the past several decades was all about the Kashmiri people’s right to self determination be it a Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist or a Christian.
Urging the Biden administration to revisit its wisdom on Kashmir Saghar said that instead of compromising its ideals the US must take a bold stance and play its much needed role to resolve the lingering Kashmir dispute that has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan.
