Author: PTI
Publication: Outlook
Date: August 11, 2002
URL: http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?gid=&id=75424
Days after the Pakistan chapter
of Hurriyat Conference lashed out at the mismanagement in Pakistan-Occupied
Kashmir (PoK), another senior separatist leader left Islamabad red-faced
when he accused it of using PoK only as a ground to breed terrorism.
"Almost one year after September
11, the world has changed beyond recognition. Pakistan has, however, still
not given up its folly of trying to use terrorism as a covert tool to attain
its strategic objectives.... promises of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf
to close down militant training camps have not been fulfilled," Shaukat
Ali Kashmiri said in his speech at 54th session of United National Sub-Committee
on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.
Kashmiri, who was speaking recently
on behalf of an European NGO, said that "under the protective shield of
Pakistan's intelligence agencies, PoK remains a sanctuary for terrorist
groups which operate in places ranging from Afghanistan and Kashmir to
Indonesia and the Phillipines." "Terrorist camps continue to exist in PoK
which had led to rising tension and violence with the local population
protesting against the presence of Pakistani and foreign terrorists on
their soil," Kashmiri, who was making an oral intervention on behalf of
European Union of Public Relations, told the Sub-Commission.
Recently, leaders of Pakistani chapter
of Hurriyat had snubbed Musharraf for handling of Kashmir issue and even
went ahead to say the situation in PoK was far worse than that in Jammu
and Kashmir.
Kashmiri said in response to the
growing dissent in PoK, Pakistani army and secret intelligence services
have tightened their "iron grip over the area by resorting to increased
repression." He said the recent surveys by independent authorities had
proved that Kashmiris were against violence and had a desire for earliest
restoration of peace.
"This can only happen when Pakistan
finally closes down the terrorist training camps as the entire budget of
PoK is diverted for maintaining the infrastructure of these camps," he
said.
Expressing happiness over the demand
from various leaders in Jammu and Kashmir for holding free and fair elections,
Kashmiri drew the attention of the leaders at Sub-Commission of elections
held in PoK where majority of candidates were denied participation as the
military government wanted its own puppet regime.