Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Kashmir chapter, Dr Khalid Mehmood, on Friday lambasted the Pakistani government for its weak support to the Kashmiri freedom struggle against the continuing Indian atrocities. "Pakistan is the destination for Kashmiris," he said, during his visit to the Karachi Press Club where he also vowed to complete the Pakistan geographic map with freeing the held-Kashmir from Indian occupation.
"Pakistan government's weak foreign policy hurts the long freedom struggle of Kashmiris," he said, adding that Kashmir is a flashpoint in South Asia. He proposed that Pakistan should appoint a deputy foreign minister to raise the Kashmir issue on the world's political and diplomatic platforms. He said only the settlement of Kashmir dispute can help guarantee peace in South Asia.
"Over 150,000 Kashmiris have been killed by India in the course of freedom struggle," Dr Khalid cited. He lamented that Indian forces also used pellet guns to hit children in the face. He said that there is no other option to settle the Kashmir issue other than the plebiscite under UN. He said that Pakistan government should continue its diplomatic and political support to the Kashmir cause. He said that the country's geography cannot be deemed complete without the valley's freedom from India.
"If Pakistani government stops its support to the cause, it will increase problems for Kashmiris," he warned, urging that Pakistan should fulfill its diplomatic and political responsibilities. He said that East Timor got independence because it was a Christian-majority land, while Kashmiris never received the UN's support despite its resolutions because their majority is Muslims. The JI official also slammed the Indian government for its unrestricted use of pellet guns in held-Kashmir. He noted that Kashmiris observe black day across the world on India's Republic Day. He also said that continued democratic process in Pakistan is likely to help Kashmiris attain freedom. He asked the Pakistan's political parties to tag the Kashmir cause to its election drive. He asked them to make Kashmir issue part of their manifestos.