MUZAFFARABAD: The Chief of the Army Staff, (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, on Sunday reiterated support to the struggle for the right to self-determination by the Kashmiri people and praised them for braving ‘state-sponsored terrorism’ at the hands of Indian forces in held Kashmir.

“The violence perpetuated by the Indian forces in held Kashmir is state-sponsored terrorism by all definitions,” he said during a visit to the Line of Control (LoC) in Haji Pir sector of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) — his fourth visit to the heavily militarised dividing line in the disputed region since assuming office in November last year.

The army chief, according to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations, said that Kashmiri people had a right to live without fear and repression.

“We will always stand by their rightful political struggle for the right of self-determination and recourse to basic human rights,” he vowed.

He pointed out that India vented its frustration on the people of held Kashmir and Pakistani villages along the LoC and the Working Boundary.

Receives briefing during his fourth visit to LoC since he assumed office last year

“This violence riles up passions on this side of the LoC as the people of Pakistan cannot remain indifferent to the barbaric treatment meted out to defenceless Kashmiris, including women and children,” he said.

However, he made it clear that Pakistan army would keep its response purely in the military domain in accordance with its values.

Earlier on arrival, Gen Bajwa was received by 10-Corps Commander Lt Gen Nadeem Raza, 12-Division General Officer Commanding Maj Gen Azhar Abbas and other senior officials.

After being briefed on the situation along the LoC, ceasefire violations and operational readiness of the formation, the army chief appreciated the operational preparedness and high morale of troops.

On March 24, the COAS had visited the LoC in Kel sector of Neelum valley, and earlier he had visited Mattewala and Munaawar sectors in Bhimber district on Feb 21. Last year on Dec 2, he had visited another area along the LoC in Bhimber district.

On each occasion, the army chief gave an unequivocal message to India that Kashmir was the core issue between Pakistan and India, which would have to be resolved in accordance with the United Nations’ resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people for a lasting peace in the region.

During his last visit, he had rejected Indian propaganda about presence of miscreants along the LoC, which, he said, was aimed at fomenting unrest in AJK but would not succeed in achieving that objective.

Of late, the LoC has seen some of the worst ceasefire violations by India, leaving a number of civilians and army personnel dead and injured in AJK.

Tensions mounted after an attack by suspected militants on an Indian army base in Uri on Sept 18 last year, which left 18 Indian soldiers dead. India claimed that it had conducted surgical strikes on the Pakistani side of the LoC.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2017