MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, on Monday said that Pakistan has consistently highlighted the Kashmir issue at every international forum and will continue to raise its voice for the just cause of the Kashmiri people.
Talking on the Right to Self-Determination Day, the premier stressed that Azad Kashmir cannot be compared with Indian-occupied Kashmir, nor can Pakistan’s brave armed forces be compared with an occupying army.
Rathore said that the response of Pakistan’s forces to Indian aggression was commendable. He reiterated that Kashmiris must be given their internationally recognized right to self-determination and said that a clear and well-defined policy regarding Kashmir is the need of the hour.
Referring to important dates linked with the Kashmir struggle, the Prime Minister said that days like January 5 and February 5 revive national emotions and remind the world of the promises made by the United Nations to the Kashmiri people.
He added that the black night of oppression and cruelty in occupied Kashmir has not yet ended, but the day is not far when Kashmir will achieve its due rights.
He said that the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people would not go in vain, emphasizing that any movement fueled by the blood of martyrs ultimately succeeds. Highlighting the atrocities committed in Indian-occupied Kashmir, he described them as among the worst examples in history.
The Prime Minister further said that the world often sides with strength, which makes it imperative to face realities and adopt a clear stance. He expressed complete confidence in Pakistan’s unwavering love and support for Kashmir, while acknowledging that the policy framework regarding Kashmir needed improvement in the past.
Concluding his remarks, Faisal Mumtaz said that Kashmir has a distinct and internationally recognized status and is not a province, reaffirming the commitment to continue the struggle until the Kashmir dispute is resolved in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
