ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): President Azad Kashmir Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry has said that tripartite talks involving all stakeholders to the Kashmir issue, including the Kashmiri leadership were imperative to bring about a just settlement of the Kashmir dispute.
He expressed these views while addressing an Iftar dinner hosted by him in honour of Kashmiri journalists on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, President Chaudhry stressed the need for adopting a unified stand on the issue of Kashmir, seeking that the leadership across the political spectrum must speak in one voice when it comes to the issue of Kashmir.
Reiterating his call for tripartite talks to resolve the lingering dispute, the President said that Kashmiris being a principled party to the dispute has to be part of the decision-making process.
“Talks sans Kashmiris bound to fail”
“Any talks sans Kashmiris’ participation are bound to fail”, he said.
Referring to creeping communalism in Indian society, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry said Modi’s Hindutva policies have vindicated Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s stance of a separate homeland for the Muslims of sub-continent.
He stated that ruthless slaughter of religious minorities in India and massacre of Kashmiri people at the hands of Indian occupation forces say it all about India’s so-called democratic values.
Referring to his recent visit to the UK and US, the President said that he had presented the Kashmiris’ case effectively before the world community and sought the international community’s effective intervention to help resolve the lingering dispute peacefully in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
He said that the world needs to understand the fact that durable peace in the region was inescapably linked to the settlement of the longstanding Kashmir dispute.
“It is the responsibility of powerful countries, especially the US and UK, to play their role in giving the Kashmiri people their right to self-determination”, he further said.
He was of the view that an effective diplomatic campaign was required to sensitize the global community about the early settlement of Kashmir dispute in addition to mounting pressure on India to implement the UNSC resolutions that call for holding referendum in Kashmir.
He also underlined the need to muster international support in favour of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
On the occasion, Chaudhry appreciated overseas Kashmiris’ significant contribution in promoting Kashmir cause at global forums.
Terming construction of an international airport in Mirpur and expansion and restoration of Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot airports as long outstanding demands of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Barrister Chaudhry said, being head of the state, he would continue to play his role to fullfill these demands.
He further stated said the construction of Mirpur-Muzaffarabad-Mansehra Motorway, establishment of the CPEC Business Center in Mirpur and early completion of Rathua-Haryam Bridge were amongst his priorities.
