For Pakistan, Kashmir is a matter of life and death : JUI-F
By ANIThursday, April 29, 2010
KARACHI - Describing the Kashmir issue as a matter of ‘life and death’ for Pakistan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman has reiterated Islamabad’s long standing demand of resolving the Kashmir issues in accordance with the United Nations (UN) resolutions.
Speaking during a seminar titled: “Kashmiris Right of Self Determination”, Rahman said Kashmir was of utmost importance for Pakistan.
Citing China’s claims over Taiwan, he said Pakistan should also follow Beijing’s approach while dealing with the Kashmir issues.
“China has been single-mindedly pursuing its case for Taiwan.Much can be learnt from Chinese experience. Unfortunately Pakistan’s foreign policy is not truly reflective of consistency that a matter like Kashmir deserves and requires,” The Nation quoted Rahman, as saying.
“The people of Kashmir enlivened Kashmiri movement with their sacrifices but the Shimla Pact diluted the very international nature of Kashmir dispute. There have been several solutions for the Kashmir problem but the best one will be one that is based upon peaceful accommodation between the two countries,” he added.
Rahman said that post 9/11, Pakistan’s Kashmir policy had suffered great setbacks, and that it has now become a question of Pakistan’s survival.
“Today this problem was no longer Kashmir oriented. It is now a problem of Pakistan’s existence for Pakistan’s agriculture has been facing direct consequences of water terrorism by India,” he said.
Speaking during the seminar, Dr. Moonis Ahmar, chairman Department of International Relations, Karachi University, described the Kashmir issue as a ‘human’ problem.
Ahmar emphasized upon a peaceful solution for the Kashmir problem, saying its solution could fundamentally alter the lives of more than one billion people in South Asia.
“Practical measures should be taken towards the direction of Kashmir’s resolution because the absence of peace has proved to be detrimental to the common interests of common people of the region,” he said. (ANI)
