India criticised for deploying extra troops on LoC

20 May, 2008

Former AJK Prime Minister Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry on Monday strongly criticised India for deployment of additional troops on the Line of Control (LoC) two days before visit of its foreign minister to Pakistan for dialogue on Kashmir.
"India has deployed 30,000 extra troops and several thousands personnel of reserved police force which reflects that its leadership is not sincere in resolving longstanding Kashmir issue," he told a press conference here.
He said that India is using delaying tactics on the issue adding, "India has held several rounds of composite dialogue for resolution of all outstanding issues including Kashmir but there is no significant progress on the matter." Sultan Mehmood stressed to include Kashmiris in the dialogue to take them into confidence, as they are main party to the issue.
About intra-Kashmiri dialogue, he said the Kashmiris living both sides of Kashmir should be provided an opportunity to meet each other and discuss this issue. India, he said, should have announced Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) for Kashmiris before visit of its foreign minister but it has increased human rights violations in held valley.
He called upon the world community to take notice of these violations and force India to stop its atrocities against innocent Kashmiris. Sultan Mehmood said the movement for the grant of right to self-determination is an indigenous movement, which is being propelled by Kashmiris.

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