IRNA -- Kashmir's top armed organization--the Hizbul Mujahideen--on Saturday termed Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's speech in parliament on Friday as encouraging. In a statement, faxed to IRNA's Islamabad Bureau, Hizb Central chief Amir Syed Salahuddin welcomed the Indian premier's speech, calling it a "ray of hope."
However, he said that Vajpayee would have to adopt an approach different from that taken by his predecessors. "It should not turn out to be a mere diplomatic exercise with no tangible objectives as has been the case in the past," he charged. The world community, he added, was fully aware of the fact that the lingering Kashmir issue could not only endanger peace in the region but could also put global peace at stake. "Because of the Kashmir issue, Islamabad and New Delhi were spending huge amounts on defense resources instead of paying attentionto the welfare of their peoples," he maintained.
| And much of that money on the Pak side goes into supporting Hizbul... |
Talking to IRNA, Hizb spokesman Salim Hashmi contended that the Kashmiri freedom fighters were waging their struggle in line with the UN Charter. "The struggle of the Kashmiris could in no way be termed terrorismas it will be in total negation of UN resolutions that allow movements for liberation," he said.
| "The fact that we present a template for terrorist organizations is beside the point..." |
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