J&K separatists praise Pakistan Premier for speech at UN

Srinagar: Kashmiri separatists said on Thursday that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif deserves the “highest praise” and “heartfelt honour” for raising the issues and concerns of the people of the state in a “perfect manner” during his speech at the United Nations on Wednesday. They welcomed his proposed four-point “peace initiative”, particularly demilitarising J&K.

“Mr Sharif deserves lots of praise for candidly talking about the wishes and aspirations of the people of J&K and highlighting the miseries they have gone through for decades while speaking in the UN,” said Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Endorsing the Pakistan PM’s demilitarisation proposal, Mr Geelani alleged, “J&K is the most militarised region in the world. Indian forces are committing the worst war crimes here and have killed more than 100,000 people during the last 25 years besides subjecting an equal number of people to the worst kind of custodial torture.” He also accused the security forces of being responsible for 10,000 involuntary disappearances and using rape as a war weapon. “The presence of the Indian occupational forces in J&K will continue to endanger precious human lives and hum-an rights violations will also continue to occur,” he said, adding the UN has a responsibility to play its role in demilitarisation in the state “so that the people of the state can express their will and choice freely”.

The octogenarian leader said Mr Sharif’s speech at the UNGA “has encouraged the subjugated people of J&K.” He also said that the UN has only damaged its credibility by not fulfilling its responsibility towards addressing the issue.

“This institution has failed, so far, to come up to the expectations of the poor and subjugated nations of the world,” he said.