Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman has said that Pakistan's foreign policy should be Kashmir-centric rather than Afghanistan. "We have been engaged in Afghanistan for the last three decades which has put the Kashmir issue on the back burner," he added.
While addressing a big public meeting at Minar e-Pakistan here on Sunday, he came down hard on the former government for its 'topsy-turvy' stance with regard to country's foreign policy saying, "there has been a fundamental change in Pakistan's foreign policy shifting emphasis on solution of Kashmir issue and uncalled for link with Afghanistan's affairs."
Fazal said "I have been Chairman of Kashmir Committee of the National Assembly for many years, and as an insider I know fully where Kashmir stands in the priorities of the Establishment and the government. Our soldiers are trained to fight India not Afghanistan," he added.
He said that there were weaknesses in the present foreign policy, saying it was not approved by the Parliament. He further said that Parliament was supreme and it was the constitutional requirement that foreign policy should be prepared and approved by the Parliament.
He said that peace in South Asia could not prevail without solving the Kashmir issue. For this purpose, positive and result oriented dialogues must be initiated, he urged.
He further said that it was high time for change therefore people should carefully use their power of vote. He said that people should select their candidates carefully if they intended to change their life. He said that all the past governments badly failed to implement Islam in the country in letter and spirit. He further said that JUI-F will bring change in the country after coming into power.
He further said that delay in general elections would not be tolerated at any cost.
His party would continue dialogue with the Taliban for the permanent peace in the region, he added
He said that the basic aim and objective to achieve Pakistan was to implement Shariah in the country but with heavy heart he had to say that this aim was not achieved by any political party or rulers.
He underlined the need of a national policy and pursuing a meaningful dialogue with India for resolution of the Kashmir issue. "Every leader in Pakistan seems to be projecting his own version of the solution. India on the other hand is united on the view that Kashmir is their integral part," he added.
He said that Kashmir was an unfinished part of subcontinent's division and Pakistan foremost demand from India should have been to accept Kashmir as a disputed territory.
Referring to the government's decision to grant the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India, he said that the government's policy was a confused one. "On one hand the government observes black day against the Indian atrocities in Kashmir on the other they are willing to make them the most-favoured nation," he observed.