The top leadership of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday appreciated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for taking up Kashmir issue and urging its early peaceful solution during his recent visit to the United Sates. Commenting on the Prime Minister's visit to the US, former AJK prime minister and All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference President Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan said: "Nawaz has strongly represented the Kashmir cause during his visit to the UN and the United States."
Talking to APP, Attique said "highlighting the aggressive and negative designs of India in the region before the US leadership and the world forum is a highly praiseworthy act". "As such, the Prime Minister has truly and boldly represented the sentiments of the people of Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir," he added. The former AJK prime minister suggested that national Kashmir policy be formulated with the same spirit and stance, as unequivocally expressed by the Prime Minister during his visit to the US.
"So the importance of early peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue should continue to be raised at each relevant forum with the same spirit," he added.
The Muslim Conference chief said it was imperative to accelerate the diplomatic efforts over the importance and urgency of early peaceful solution of Kashmir issue. He suggested that entire leadership of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) in occupied Jammu & Kashmir, be immediately invited to Pakistan.
Appreciating Nawaz for taking up the Kashmir issue in a bold and courageous manner, Jammu & Kashmir Liberation League President Justice Majeed Mallick said that it was after the gap of some years that the US President was apprised of the Kashmir issue. He said the importance of the resolution of Kashmir problem was realised and as such, it was included in the joint statement by the US President and the Prime Minister, he added.
He said that apart from efforts and pressure on India to enter in to talks with Pakistan and in order to resolve outstanding issues faced by both the countries, it was equally important that Pakistan should explore other avenues to ensure realisation of the right of self-determination, promised to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Former Justice Mallick further appreciated the latest approach and policy of the PM of Pakistan towards Kashmir issue. He suggested to the government that it may be conducive to invoke United Nations Security Council by raising the lingering dispute there for its solution.
The JKLL President further appreciated the address by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the representatives of the US Congress, security and defence institution.
The Kashmiri leader also lauded the presence of Pakistan's permanent representative Dr Maleeha Lodhi in the United Nations for her diplomatic experience and public relation at the international forum and proposed that her services should be employed by raising Kashmir issue in the UN Security Council and implementation of the UN SC resolutions.
Justice Mallick opined that unless third party like UN Security Council was not involved, India would not agree to settle the Kashmir issue, through bilateral negotiations.
Raja Farooq Haider Khan, former AJK prime minister and PML-N AJK President, said the Nawaz had boldly apprised the US leadership of several of important challenges confronted by South Asia because of aggressive posture of India.