MIRPUR: Former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik Monday called on Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan and discussed the prevailing situation of human rights in occupied Kashmir, situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and ongoing process of development in the AJK.
Minister for Education Barrister Iftikhar Gillani and other officials were also present on the occasion.
Expression his views, AJK PM said the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir issue was imperative for the durable peace in the region.
“All civilised countries including Norway, put pressure on India for the resolution of the issue so that she (India) come to the table for talks. Pakistan always supported the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people, but it was India which always created hurdles in the way of resolving the Kashmir issue,” he said.
Farooq Haider further said that people of Kashmir want resolution of Kashmir issue accordance with United Nations resolutions so that this issue could be resolved accordance with wishes of the Kashmiris people. Kashmiri people are the core party of the dispute and they have the basic role in the negotiations, he added.
AJK prime minister said that United Nations must take notice of the human rights violations in the occupied Kashmir.
“India on one hand is victimising Kahsmiris in occupied Kashmir and on the other hand half of million population is badly affected by the Indian firing on the LoC, routine life of the people along the LOC is also miserable,” he said.
AJK premier said that AJK has a great potential of tourism, but this potential is badly affected because of Indian firing on LOC. India must respect the international law as she is targeting schools and hospitals along the LOC. Public transport and animals were also being hit by the Indian forces, he said.
The AJK premier expressed hope that Norway would play its role to exposing Indian brutal force before the international community.
Former Norwegian premier said that he had visited occupied Kashmir before coming to AJK and had meetings with Syed Ali Gillani, Mir Waiz Umer Farooq and other Hurriyat leadership and got the awareness of the situation.
“We have desire that Kashmir issue be resolved and India and Pakistan could be brought to table so this issue be resolved through peaceful means,” he said.
He said, “We want resolution of Kashmir issue through implementation of UN resolutions so problems of the Kashmiri people could be solved and they could lead their lives peacefully.”
He said that for the significance of regional security the importance of resolving Kashmir issue cannot be ignored.
