A seven member delegation of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) led by Mir Waiz Umer Farooq called on Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar at the Foreign Office today.
Welcoming the APHC delegation, the Foreign Minister expressed appreciation of the Government and the people of Pakistan for the role being played by the APHC in the Kashmir movement. Recognizing the sacrifices made by the Kashmiris in their legitimate struggle, the Foreign Minister reassured the delegation of Pakistan’s unflinching and unwavering support to the Kashmir cause.
The Foreign Minister said there was a complete unanimity in Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. She said Pakistan remains committed to a just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN resolutions and the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people. She said that Pakistan had always emphasized that the Kashmiris should be associated with the dialogue process.
The Foreign Minister underscored that the indigenous movement in the Indian Occupied Kashmir had made it clear that the problem in Kashmir could not be ignored and that it needed to be addressed in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir. She also expressed concern at the widespread human rights violations in the Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK).
The APHC leaders thanked the Foreign Minister for inviting them to Pakistan for consultation. They also thanked the Government and the people of Pakistan for their unconditional support to the Kashmiri people in their struggle for self determination.
The APHC delegation expressed support to the dialogue process between Pakistan and India and stressed the need for involving the Kashmiris in the dialogue process. They emphasized that just and peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute was essential for peace in South Asia. They also suggested some new proposals for the Cross LoC CBMs in order to facilitate the Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC.
The APHC delegation is currently visiting Pakistan on the invitation of the Foreign Minister. Besides calling on the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and the Minister for Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan, they are also meeting with the heads of other political parties in the country. The Hurriyat delegation visited Muzaffarabad on 16-17 December 2012 and met the President and the Prime Minister of AJK and other Kashmiri leaders.
The visit of the APHC delegation is part of a consultation process with the Kashmiris. Other members of the delegation included Maulana Abbas Ansari, Professor Abdul Ghani Bhat, Mr. Bilal Ghani Lone, Mr. Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Agha Syed Hasan al-Moosvi, Mr. Muhammad Mussadiq Adil.
(Islamabad)
