OIC Contact Group on Kashmir
Manohar Parikar says withdrawal of facilities, including security cover, to Kashmiri leaders was long overdue; Maleeha Lodhi chalks out hectic schedule of PM’s engagements in New York
ISLAMABAD: The Indian government has declined permission to the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leaders, including its Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, to proceed to the United States to attend the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir scheduled this month on the fringes of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) summit.
The APHC leadership has been invited for the Contact Group meeting by the Secretary General of the OIC Ayaz Madani of Saudi Arabia. Adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz will attend the group meeting on behalf of Pakistan that will be headed by Turkey.
Meanwhile, Kashmiris living in the United States and some other parts of the world and Sikhs will stage an impressive demonstration outside the UN Headquarters during the General Assembly and especially on the day when India will give its statement.
Kashmiris will highlight the atrocities unleashed by the Indian occupied forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) while Sikhs will raise their voice for establishing their independent state “Khalistan.”
They will denounce the Indian government’s obnoxious attitude towards the Sikh population. Interestingly, this is the third consecutive year that the Indian government has denied the APHC leaders to visit to the United Nations despite an invitation by the international organization acknowledged by the world body.
Highly-placed sources told The News on Sunday that Azad Kashmir President Sardar Masood Khan will put up the case of Kashmiri people in the UN Headquarters as he is also leaving for the United States next week.
Sardar Masood Khan, who has been recently elected by a thumping majority for the slot, would also address gatherings of Kashmiris in New York who are hosting a reception for him on the occasion, the sources said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who will be leading Pakistan’s delegation for the UNGA and address the world leaders in the UN hall, is believed to deliver a significant message on behalf of the oppressed people of IOK.
He will be for the third time raise the Kashmir issue in the United Nations during his present stint. Pakistan’s permanent representative (PR) for the United Nations Ambassador Dr. Maleeha Lodhi has chalked out extensive and hectic schedule of engagements of the prime minister during his week-long stay in New York, the sources said.
The Indian lobby in the United States has also been working out an intriguing scheme to exploit the UNGA summit to malign Pakistan and for the ulterior purpose a demonstration could be staged by using political opponents of the present government.
Meanwhile, amid reports that the India’s central government may scale down security cover of APHC leaders and curtail various facilities enjoyed by them in view of the unrest, Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said withdrawal of such facilities was long overdue.
He said on Sunday that the facilities extended to Kashmiri pro-freedom leaders should have been withdrawn a long time back. The Indian media has reported that responding to a query whether the APHC leaders should continue to enjoy the perks at the cost of exchequer, the Indian minister said, “There is concern about APHC leaders getting such facilities. I favour withdrawal of such facilities.”
His remarks came amid indications that the Union government may harden its attitude towards the leaders following the cold shoulder given by them to the Indian MPs, who were part of an all-party delegation, during their recent visit to the IOK.
Miffed by the snub by the Hurriyat leaders, the Indian government is considering moves to curb their foreign travel by withdrawing their passports and denying travel documents in some cases, besides scaling down their security cover.
Parrikar, a known Hindu extremist, also justified deployment of additional troops in the IOK, saying it was aimed at foiling attempts by Mujahideen to enter India from across the border and that the move had nothing to do with the ongoing unrest in the Valley.
“Army does not act in internal matters unless requested by the local administration. Our mandate is to seal the border and foil infiltration bids by intruders,” Parrikar claimed. On holding talks with all stake-holders, including the APHC, and formulating special strategies to tackle law and order situation in the IOK, he said: “The Home Ministry decides on these issues.”
He vowed that the Union government had been handling violence in the Valley pro-actively, “which comes from across the border. A small percentage is holding the majority to ransom in the state.”
