Unjust to term freedom fighters ‘terrorists’, says foreign ministry
Ministry's comments follow designation of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief as ‘global terrorist’ by US
June 27, 2017
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday it is unjust to term those partaking in the freedom struggle for Kashmir as terrorists.
A statement by the ministry stated that human rights continue to be violated in Indian Occupied Kashmir.
“In the last one year, the occupying Indian forces have increased their atrocities against innocent civilians in the valley. Kashmiris cannot be denied their right to self-determination,” read the statement.
The statement follow the imposition of sanctions on Kashmiri freedom fighter and chief of the Hizbul Mujahideen Syed Sallahudin by the US government on Monday.
Nisar says US admin talking the talk of India
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar expressed concerns at the US administration “talking the talk of India”, saying that no power in the world can deprive Kashmiris of their rights.
Nisar said that that the Indian government is involved in serious human rights violations in the valley and is trying from day one to suppress the movement to self-determination.
“India is trying to present independence movement as terrorism. Every principled and conscientious nation should be concerned over India’s oppressive practices,” said the interior minister.
He added that the rights of the Kashmiri people would not be traded for anything and our struggle would continue till they get their legitimate rights.
AJK president condemns decision
Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Sardar Masood Khan also condemned the inclusion of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) chief as a 'gobal terrorist'.
He said the organisation [HuM] has nothing to do with to do with terrorism.
HuM is only active in Kashmir and wants freedom for Kashmiris in Indian-occupied Kashmir, Khan said. He added that it’s US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will prove to be a threat to global peace.
Khan said that Indian troops are terrorising the residents of the valley.
Criticising the United States, the AJK president — a former career diplomat — said that the country has always deceived Pakistan.
The move by the United States meas the country now considers Salahuddin, also known as Mohammad Yusuf Shah, a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist,” the US State Department said in a statement.
The designation slaps sanctions on “foreign persons who have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of US nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States,” the statement read.
The new sanctions mean American citizens are generally barred from doing business with Salahuddin, and all his assets subject to United States jurisdiction are blocked.
The designation was announced just before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was due at the White House for his first face-to-face meeting with President Donald Trump.
After the meeting, a statement issued by the White House stated that President Trump and Prime Minister Modi called on Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries.
The two leaders also "called on all nations to resolve territorial and maritime disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law," the statement said further.
"Both our nations have been struck by the evils of terrorism, and we are both determined to destroy terrorist organisations and the radical ideology that drives them. We will destroy radical Islamic terrorism. Our militaries are working every day to enhance cooperation between our military forces. And next month, they will join together with the Japanese navy to take place in the largest maritime exercise ever conducted in the vast Indian Ocean," said Trump, according to the joint press statement released by the White House.
