Terming the statement of Pakistan Prime Minister, Mian Nawaz Sharief, while addressing a joint session of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislature on Kashmir Solidarity Day, as historic and based on political realities of Kashmir, All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Chairman, Mirwaiz Dr. Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq Saturday said the Pakistan premier’s statement that “Kashmir issue was a litmus test of the political foresight of the present Indian and Pakistani leadership” not only speaks of a courageous approach to end the present confrontation and distrust between the two countries but also reflects the sincere intentions of Sharief about a just resolution of the Kashmir issue.
Mirwaiz said after the statement of Mian Nawaz Sharief now, it remains to be seen whether the political leadership of India responds to the initiative of Mr. Sharief positively and resolves all outstanding issues between the two countries including the vexed issue of Kashmir by initiating a meaningful and result oriented dialogue process among all the stake holders or maintains its traditional stubbornness and hard-line posture regarding the issue thus holding the peace of entire South Asia hostage.Stressing that the resolution of Kashmir issue was inevitable for the betterment of peace and prosperity of over one and a half billion people of the subcontinent and entire South Asia, the APHC Chairman said, time had come to lay a foundation for a better and prosperous future of this region and end political uncertainty and economic deprivation of the people by respecting their social and human rights.
Suggesting that instead of blaming the circumstances and the situation in which the two countries had been caught for the past seven decades, it was time for the leadership to take bold and courageous decisions to end the stalemate and work towards a better future of the entire region.Mirwaiz said the observing of Kashmir Solidarity Day in Pakistan, provides encouragement to the people of Kashmir to carry forward their ongoing resistance struggle. (KNS)