Former president of Kashmir Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan on Wednesday called for an end to Indian forces' atrocities in occupied Kashmir, saying in the given situation solution of Kashmir issue was not in sight.
Sardar Qayyum cautioned that the present situation in Kashmir, if persisted further, would not serve Pakistan's interests therefore, Islamabad should exert more pressure on India to improve human rights situation in occupied Kashmir.
Addressing a crowded news conference here at a local hotel, he said that finding solution to lingering Kashmir issue at this stage could push the things back to square one.
Veteran Kashmiri leader returned the other day from India after a week-long interaction with Indian leaders, policy markers, scholars and representatives from other spheres of life.
He also appealed to Indian forces to go for de-escalation in Kashmir so that the humanity there heaves a sigh of relief.
Pakistan and India have fought two of the three wars over Kashmir, a disputed piece of land since their independence from the British rule in August 1947.
Sardar Qayyum, who had been president and prime minister of Azad Kashmir, said during his talks with former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and former deputy prime minister LK Advani, they emphasised for continuation of the peace process between the two countries.
Pakistan and India started the process of dialogue in February last year following a historic meeting between President General Pervez Musharraf and then Prime Minister Vajpayee in Islamabad.
He said Indians called upon Pakistan to stop alleged infiltration from its soil, saying without putting an end to it, progress on solution of Kashmir issue was impossible.
"I told them that President General Pervez Musharraf had already disbanded liberation movement from Pakistan side and how it can take place when India has erected 16-feet high live barbed wire that too in the presence of 0.8 million Indian forces," he said.
Sardar Qayyum maintained that now whatever was going on in Kashmir was indigenous in nature. "There are no two opinions what is happening in Kashmir for liberation is Jehad," he argued.
He also contended that if what they alleged about so-called infiltration was true what the 0.8 million Indian forces were doing in Kashmir?
Kashmir leader said that he had advocated for a cut in troops from both sides, added troops must be shifted from populated areas.
He rejected the proposal of giving Kashmir an independent state's status, saying this would be in total negation to the Partition Formula and the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Sardar Qayyum proposed that both countries should jointly take measures for rehabilitation of thousands of displaced Kashmiris with the assistance from the international community.
Besides, he said that necessary measures must also be taken for the improvement of social services in Kashmir.
He denied reports that he had changed his stance on Kashmir armed struggle and called it terrorism. "The resistance movement in Kashmir is justified and legal," he said. Replying to a question, he was of the view that he wished solution of Kashmir problem during President Musharraf's rule.
He agreed with a questioner that if the on-going freedom movement died at this critical juncture, it might not be revived.
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