Mirpur: (Parliament Times) The President Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Masood Khan has said that despite our political and ideological differences our stance on Kashmir must be in sync with our national security policy and the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.
The President expressed these views while addressing a seminar on “Role of Overseas Kashmiris for Kashmir Cause and development of AJK” held here in Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mirpur. The seminar was also attended by Ms. Naz Shah, Member of British Parliament, Raja Najabat Hussain, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Self-determination Movement Europe, accompanying UK Councilors of Kashmiri origin, Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed, Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth, Government of AJK and Vice Chancellor MUST.
Masood Khan said that a focused approach is needed by all for the peaceful and just resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance to the UN resolutions. “The diaspora community needs to be unified and it’s imperative we synergize all our efforts so that we may positively advocate the Kashmir cause in a fruitful manner”, said President AJK. He said that despite our political and ideological differences our stance on Kashmir must be in sync with our national security policy and the aspirations of the people of Kashmir.
President Masood Khan said that the innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir have been virtually imprisoned in their homeland; they are being murdered, jailed on false pretenses, the women are being dishonored and young unarmed protestors are shot with illegal pellet guns. “It is our duty to liberate out brothers and sisters from the shackles of the Indian occupation forces”, said the President.
Sardar Masood Khan said that the initiation of debates on Kashmir in the UK Parliament and the All Parties Parliamentary Group on Kashmir in UK is a visible indication of the efforts of the Diaspora community in mobilizing and sensitizing their representatives on the Kashmir dispute. MP Naz Shah in her address said that the Labour Party has made it a part of their manifesto to make efforts for a just resolution of the Kashmir Issue. She said that the Pakistani and Kashmiri diaspora have been very vocal and actively advocating the Kashmir cause.
President Masood Khan told the gathering that the AJK government has taken great strides to develop the renewable energy sector, mining and extraction sector, agriculture, tourism, telecommunications and quality higher education. AJK is on a path of development and will actively contribute to greater economic growth in the region, he said. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor, said the President, has proved to be a catalyst of change in the region and in parallel has brought over 400 further development projects to this region which will make it the next big investment haven for the world.
With over 10 million overseas Pakistanis and Kashmiris we have to create investment opportunities for the economic growth of our country, urged the President. He said that the month of October holds a very significant place in the history of Kashmir, as it was on 24th of this month in 1947 that Azad Kashmir gained its independence and on the 27th the Indian forces through false pretext invaded Kashmir forcefully occupying and enslaving its local populace.
India has fruitlessly tried to financially and economically divert the Kashmiris from their freedom struggle, said Masood Khan. “We will not be faltered from our true objective, that is, the right to self-determination of the people of Kashmir”, said President Masood Khan.
He said that the people of Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the Diaspora community must unify on a common stance on Kashmir and not deviate from our national security policy.
