‘Declaring Gilgit-Baltistan as Pakistans’s fifth’s province unacceptable’
Srinagar: The resistance camp in a joint statement on Friday said that any proposal to declare Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) as the fifth province of Pakistan will not be accepted and any geographical change to erstwhile Kashmir will prove detrimental to the Kashmir cause.
Resistance leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq and Yasin Malik in a statement said that the people of Kashmir have always lauded the role of Pakistan in highlighting the Kashmir dispute internationally however, any declaration or move which will hamper the disputed status of Kashmir is unacceptable.
“Pakistan is the primary party to the Kashmir issue. We hail the role Pakistan has played regarding Kashmir at the international level, however any deviation in its stance about Kashmir and its geographical entity is improper and will prove detrimental for Kashmir cause, “the statement maintained.
All three leaders expressed serious concerns over the move to declare GB as a part of Pakistan and pointed out that it will have a damaging effect over the disputed status of the state.
“Jammu Kashmir is long standing issue in international forums and world community has agreed to decide its political destiny through resolutions acknowledged by the United Nations. Unless & until the people of State are provided an opportunity to decide the future course of state through referendum, no division, alteration and changes are acceptable, “said the statement.
“Pakistan is the primary party to the Kashmir issue. We hail the role Pakistan has played regarding Kashmir at the international level however, any deviation in its stance about Kashmir and its geographical entity is improper and will prove detrimental for Kashmir cause”
United Hurriyat leaders also maintained that India and Pakistan have no right to merge or alter any part of the state with their countries.
“We unanimously rejected the claim of Indian authorities about Jammu and Kashmir and said that India has forcibly occupied the state and hence have no right to claim or issue ridiculous statements.
We ask Pakistan to show wisdom and desist from such steps which may hamper the political and geographical position of Jammu & Kashmir, “the statement said.
The resistance leaders hope that Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif was ‘desist from this adventure of annexing GB as the fifth state of the country.
(KNS)
