Kashmiri leaders have welcomed the joint statement issued at the end of talks between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Barack Obama emphasising the importance of a sustained and resilient dialogue process between Pakistan and India aimed at resolving all outstanding territorial and other disputes including the core issue of Kashmir.
The Kashmiri leaders thanked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for raising the decades old lingering dispute of Kashmir with President Obama and other American leaders forcefully. They said that it was the result of the strong advocacy by the prime minister that the joint statement called for the “solution of Kashmir dispute”.
The Kashmiri leaders said the joint statement recognised that improvement in Pakistan-India bilateral relations would greatly enhance prospects for lasting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and asserted that solution of Kashmir dispute was the key to achieving the cherished dream.
They praised the fact that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had also raised the Kashmir issue at the United Nations in line with the aspirations of Kashmiri people.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) AJK President Sardar Farooq Haider said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was a benefactor of the Kashmiris who once again revived the Kashmir issue at the international level. He said that the entire Kashmiri nation saluted Nawaz Sharif for exposing the belligerence and hegemonic designs of India to the world.
AJK Peoples Party President Sardar Khalid Ibrahim said the joint statement was a slap on the face of India which off and on gives statements like Kashmir is its Atoot Anng (integral part). He said that the joint statement had proved that Kashmir was not a local but an international dispute which must be resolved in line with the UN resolutions. He said it was now responsibility of the international community to pressure India to agree to a plebiscite in Kashmir.
All Parties Hurriet Conference (APHC) AJK Convener Mir Tahir Masood said that the solution of Kashmir issue was not possible without American intervention. He said the US should take personal interest in Kashmir issue as it did in the case of East Timor and Sudan.
APHC(Gilani) AJK convener Ghulam Mohammad Saffi said that the prime minister had raised the Kashmir issue at the UN General Assembly and reminded the world body of its responsibilities. He said that the Pak-US joint statement and PM’s speech at the UN had once again reminded the world of the need for resolution of Kashmir issue. He said the acceptance of Kashmir as a disputed territory is the victory of the Kashmiris’ point of view. He said the Prime Minister had raised the Kashmir issue during his previous tenures and by raising the issue once again, he had won the hearts and minds of the Kashmiri people.
AJK CELEBRATES FOUNDING DAY:
The 68th Founding Day of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Government was observed across AJK and rest of the world on 24.
Major national flag hoisting ceremonies were held at Muzaffarabad where President of AJK hoisted the AJK flag besides the national flag of Pakistan.
Special ceremonies were also held at all the district and Tehsil headquarters of Azad Jammu Kashmir to celebrate the day with traditional zeal and fervor.
Rallies in various parts of AJK were also organized by public and private organizations to commemorate the day. Kashmiris once again urged the United Nations to fulfill the global promise and implement its resolutions on Kashmir without any further delay.
