ISLAMABAD, Feb 5 (APP):Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Tuesday said that with one army soldier deployed for 10 Kashmiris, the Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) had turned into one of the most heavily militarized regions in the world.
Addressing a Kashmir Solidarity Day seminar here at the President House, the minister said India militarized the occupied territory to suppress the indigenous freedom movement of Kashmiris, who just demanded their legitimate right of self-determination.
He said increased deployment and militarization served nothing but created hate, adding that even the local Kashmiri leadership like Mehbooba Mufti and Umer Abdullah, who were not supporting the point of view of Pakistan and Kashmiris, had now admitted that the movement could not be suppressed.
The minister said “In 1947, India occupied Kashmir, after 7 decades now Kashmir has occupied Indian narrative.”
He said massive human rights violations had exposed the real face of India, who claimed to be so-called champion of democracy in the world. “When you will use force and rapes against unarmed civilians as a weapon, you are no more democracy and a civilized nation.”
Pakistan’s civil and military leadership wanted normalization of ties with India but it was not possible without resolving the core issue of Kashmir as per wishes of its people, he added.
“It is not possible for Pakistan to ignore atrocities being committed in occupied Kashmir by the subjugating forces.”
He said Pakistani leadership desired to move towards the normalization process with an open heart, adding however, India should see Kashmir as an issue of humanity and not a matter of territory.
The minister said that a basic difference between the two countries (Pakistan and India) was that India considered the Kashmir a territorial issue, while Pakistan always treated it as a matter of humanity.
He said Pakistan always felt pain and agony of its Kashmiri brethren, adding “When blood bleeds in IoK, our soul feels its pain as we are bound with them in a relation of humanity.”
Fawad said Pakistan and India, being nuclear powers, could not afford another war. He said Pakistan army was the best in the world which handled the irregular conflict and overcame the menace of terrorism and extremism.
The minister reiterated Pakistan’s stance and invited India to come forward with a positive approach to find a peaceful solution of the Kashmir issue.
He asked India to repeal Special Armed Force Act in Indian occupied Kashmir and bring normalization in the valley.
“We are looking for a Kashmir solution as per the aspiration of the Kashmiri people, and we will stand for the Kashmiris rights,” he added.
