Hizbul Mujahideen: ‘Indian trade okay but Kashmir comes first’

Balochistan heavily influenced by India, says Salahuddin.

MULTAN:

Hizbul Mujahideen supreme commander Salahuddin told reporters on Monday that he had no reservations about trade with India.

Pakistan should work to build trade links with the neighbouring country as long as doing so does not compromise the cause of Kashmir, he said. Salahuddin said that trade links with India would give Pakistan’s economy a boost.

The Hizbul Mujahideen leader was talking with reporters after visiting his organisation’s offices in Multan.

However, he did object to what he called India’s repeated human rights violations. “No one is questioning India. No action or notice has been taken by the United Nations or the International Court of Justice,” he said adding, “If global superpowers can help east Sudan get independence, then there is really no reason why they are backing down on independence for Kashmir,” he said.

Salahuddin said that the government of Pakistan has been sacrificing Kashmir, trying to form an alliance with India. “The progress of Pakistan should not be written with the blood of people of Kashmir.

Speaking about the loyalty of people of Kashmir, he said that the Pakistani flag was respected by the people of Kashmir but not the people of Balochistan.

“Our own flag has been burnt in several incidents in Balochistan. This shows that the province is being influenced by India. All insurgencies in Balochistan are financed and organised by India and Israel,” he said. “These insurgencies can take up the face of Balochistan Liberation Army and Balochistan Liberation Front but their training and funding has been organised by India,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2011.