ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira on Wed­­nesday said the Kash­mir issue was linked with the sentiments of the people of Pakistan and no government dared to compromise on it.

Addressing a press conference on the eve of the 75th anniversary of Black Day — marked to protest India’s illegal occupation of Kashmir on Oct 27, 1947 — Mr Kaira assured the people of the occupied region of complete government support in their struggle for self-determination and termed the Indian subjugation of Kashmiris a gross violation of human rights.

He said India landed 80,000 troops in held Kash­mir 75 years ago and occup­ied the scenic valley against the will of its people. Now that number had grown to one million soldiers, and atr­ocities against the innocent Kashmiris continued unabated, he said but stressed that it couldn’t demoralise the people’s courage.

Mr Kaira said irrespective of political affiliations, every government in Pakis­tan had voiced and would continue to voice Kashmiris’ plight at home and abroad.

During the presser, Mr Kaira was accompanied by Kashmir Committee Chair­man Syed Basit Bukhari and Hurriyat leaders Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Faiz Naqshbandi and Mehmood Ahmad Saghar.

Subcommittee formed

Mr Bukhari told reporters the parliamentary body on Kashmir had set up a subcommittee comprising representatives from the ministries of foreign affairs, defence, interior and Kashmir affairs for better coordination on the issue.

He said that in a recent meeting the committee took several other decisions, which would be implemented in the coming days.

A joint strategy would be evolved to make coordinated efforts at every level to streamline the national opinion on the issue and raise it on all world forums, including the United Nations.

Hurriyat leader Mr Safi appreciated the government’s efforts to raise the Kashmir issue and the commitment of the people of Pakistan to the cause, which he hoped would convey the message that Kashmiris were not alone in their struggle.

Mr Saghar also thanked the government of Pakistan for coordinating efforts to raise the issue at every international forum.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2022