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Kashmiri Muslim group angry over Khatami visit
A pro-Pakistani Muslim rebel group in Kashmir on Tuesday blasted President Mohammad Khatami for taking part in India's Republic Day celebrations, which included a massive show of arms."Khatami weakened Iranian dignity by watching the exhibition of arms in New Delhi that are meant to be used against Muslims only," Jameel Ahmed, the spokesman for Jamiat-ul-Mujahedin, said in a statement Tuesday."They might use them against me!" Khatami was the chief guest during Republic Day on Sunday, during which the Indian army paraded its new tanks and missiles along New Delhi's main boulevard. "His being in India has hurt the sentiments of Kashmiris, as Kashmiri Muslims consider Iran a friend of oppressed Muslims," Ahmed said. He accused the president of Iran's Islamic republic of ignoring what Jamiat considers anti-Muslim campaigns in Kashmir and Gujarat. Khatami visited Pakistan in December, where he said Iran stood "against any kind of brutalities," particularly those against Muslims "in Palestine, in India or other parts of the world." But in India, Khatami has steered clear of making any direct statements about Kashmir or Gujarat. Business comes first. His talks have mostly focused on economic issues, such as a long-stalled plan to build a multibillion-dollar pipeline between India and Iran which would go through Pakistan. Now that is going to be a neat trick! Wonder how they plan on securing that from the boom boyz? Guess that's why it has been stalled. Posted by: Steve 2003-01-28 |
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