MUZAFFARABAD, May 24 (APP): Minister for Information government of Azad Kashmir Pir Muhammad Mazhar Saeed Shah has paid his profound gratitude to the government and people of Azerbaijan for their firm support to Kashmiris’ legitimate struggle for right to self determination.
He said this while talking to a delegation of Azerbaijan Television AZTV led by Almaz Mahmood Nasibova that called on him here Saturday. The AJK minister lauded the Azerbaijan’s crystal clear stance on Kashmir issue and it’s standing in solidarity with Pakistan during the recent war. “We are grateful to all brotherly Islamic countries especially the Azerbaijan for their strong support to Kashmiris just cause”, he said.
Highlighting the dangerous dimensions of Kashmir issue, the minister said that peace in South Asia was inescapably linked to the settlement of the longstanding Kashmir issue.
Referring to India’s traditional intransigence and its policies of deceit and deception, Shah said that India’s hostile approach served as a stumbling block in the way of peace and peaceful settlement of the Kashmir problem.
The information minister also briefed the visiting delegation regarding the prevailing political and human rights situation in the Indian occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that the Indian occupation authorities have intensified atrocities against Kashmiris following the Phalgam false flag operation.
He also warned India against committing any misadventure again, saying that Pakistan would deliver even a much stronger response than May 10 if the enemy tried to repeat the past mistakes.
Briefing the delegation about the diverse aspects of Kashmiri society in Azad Kashmir, the Information Minister said, ” Azad Kashmir has the highest literacy rate in Pakistan, where women are more educated than men”.
“The women of Azad Kashmir have proven their metal in every sphere of life”, he added.
He also underscored the government’s initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of the people in the liberated territory.
The minister told the delegation that Azad Kashmir is the most peaceful region. “There are no political prisoners in Azad Kashmir”, Shah said , adding that people of the region enjoy the all the rights and freedom guaranteed to them under our constitution.
He regrettably noted that the India has turned Kashmir into an open prison where people are forced to live in abysmal conditions. Tens of thousands of Kashmiris, he said, have been martyred by the Indian occupation forces in Jammu and Kashmir merely for demanding their birth right guaranteed to them under multiple UN resolutions.
” Thousands of Kashmiris, mostly youth, continue to languishing in Indian prisons”, the minister said, adding that Hurriyat leaders, booked under draconian laws, have been left to rot in jails outside Kashmir.
Speaking on the occasion, the leader of AZTV delegation highlighted the strong ties between Azerbaijan and Pakistan emphasizing the love and affection shared by the people of both brotherly nations.
She praised Pakistan for its consistent support to Azerbaijan, especially on the issue of Karabakh.
Ms Almaz expressed her satisfaction over development, peace and stability in Azad Kashmir. She also appreciated the government’s women empowerment policies.
During the meeting, Public Relations Manager Raja Amjad Hussain Minhas, President Azerbaijan Trade House Adeel Butt, Director Information Muhammad Bashir Mirza, District Education Officer Syeda Aiman Naqvi, Assistant Director PID External Publicity Wing Amna Iqbal, Deputy Director Education Syed Ahmed Hassan, District Information Officer Raja Muhammad Sohail Khan, Syed Asif Hussain Naqvi, Raja Abdul Basit, Khizr Hayat, Khawaja Muhammad Hanif, Sardar Shamim Anjum and others were also present.