An evil ploy: India’s ceasefire violations are part of a plan, says Masood

MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan said on Saturday that the continuous violation of a ceasefire by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC) was part of New Delhi’s plan to divert the world’s attention from the uprising in Indian-Occupied Kashmir (IOK).

Khan said 1.3 million Kashmiris living in Europe can be used to expose atrocities committed by Indian forces in Kashmir valley.

Sharing details of his recent visit to Norway, United Kingdom and America, the AJK president said overseas Kashmiri and Pakistani dignitaries were doing good job of promoting the cause. However, he stressed further efforts were necessary to expose India.

“We briefed parliamentarians who are aware of the critical situation in Indian-Occupied Kashmir and want to see the dispute resolved. They know India uses brute force to silence Kashmiris who demand their right of self-determination,” he said.



”On the diplomatic front, India has been trying to hoodwink the international community into thinking that Kashmiri people are happy with New Delhi.”

He added that the Peoples’ Democratic Front (PDP) and National Conference (NC) are being used as tools to this end.

“The Indian establishment has been tasked with defaming the ongoing liberation movement and linking it with terrorism,” Khan added.

He said neither Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) nor Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) exists in IOK. Khan added the present uprising was purely indigenous and had been brought before the world through the social media by valiant Kashmiris. “We condemn the human rights abuses and the torching of educational institutions in IOK. Those forces who have been killing Kashmiris are also arsonists,” he added.

Answering a question, Khan said former Indian external affairs minister Yashvant Sinha and his team’s visit to occupied Kashmir was another bid to dupe the world. I assure you that both Rajnath and Sinha will get nothing from Kashmiris as they have decided to accept nothing except freedom, President Khan observed.

“Indian troops are committing crimes against humanity and blinding young Kashmiris with pellet guns, without even considering age or gender,” Khan said.

He further stated that foreign countries, particularly Europe, are keenly monitoring the Kashmir situation. However, they remained cautious over condemning the “Indian state terrorism”.

“We hope senior officials from the UK go to New Delhi soon. We expect they will take up human rights abuses in Kashmir with their Indian counterparts,” Khan said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2016.