MIRPUR [AJK]             -        AJK President Sardar Masood Khan Tuesday said that war for the freedom of Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir has become inevitable, and the whole nation will fight this war shoulder to shoulder with valiant armed forces of Pakistan.

“Before any such war, we will have to create unity in our rank and file, and side by side with strengthening Pakistan in economic and defense terms, we will have to fully understand the strategy and planning of the enemy to win the war,” he emphasised while addressing a conference held in the State’s metropolis here on Tuesday.

The conference held under the auspices of Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). Among others, the conference was also addressed by Chairman Parliamentary Kashmir Committee Syed Fakhar Imam, former Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Chairman PICSS Maj-Gen (retd) Saad Khattak, All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Abdullah Gilani, head of Kashmir Institute of International Relations Altaf Andrabi and Dr. Mujahid Gilani.

The AJK president said that Indian attack of August 5 was an attack not only on Kashmir but Azad Kashmir and Pakistan as well because since then India had constantly been threatening to attack and capture Azad Kashmir and impose war on Pakistan.

The state president rejected the impression that nothing has been done in Pakistan, Azad Kashmir and on the international level on the Kashmir issue after August 5. The fact remains that after August 5, voice was loudly raised in favour of right of self-determination of Kashmiri people and against human rights violations in occupied Kashmir at US congress, its human rights committees, and parliaments of UK, Europe and France, and by the governments of Malaysia, China and Iran and Turkey.

While describing Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan as Pakistan’s defence rampart, he asserted that the people of these regions have never let the enemy cross this defence line. “Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are important for Pakistan not only in defense terms but due to their natural resources and now CPEC, these have become Pakistan’s economic lifeline,” he said and added that not only the armed forces of Pakistan are defending this area but thousands of officers and hundreds of thousands of troops belonging to Azad Kashmir, are serving Pakistan Army and defending every inch of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Parliamentary Kashmir Committee Syed Fakhr Imam said that the future of both Pakistan and Jammu & Kashmir is interlinked, and the government, people and the armed forces of Pakistan have full realization of the plight of the people of occupied Kashmir.

He regretted that the United Nations which was founded with the basic objective of saving weak nations from the repression of powerful countries has failed in the Kashmir case to stop the powerful from perpetrating repression and coming to the rescue of the oppressed Kashmiri people. He maintained that incumbent government of Pakistan has fully determined to ensure freedom of Kashmiri people and protection of their rights, and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s speech in the UN General Assembly is its proof.

Former Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan said that “Kashmir to become part of Pakistan” was not mere a slogan but an ideology and the goal and it guarantees safe future of this region. He said that the hearts of Kashmiri people beat with the hearts of their Pakistani brethren and Indian repressive tricks cannot deter the Kashmiri people from their goal.

Chairman PICSS Maj Gen (retd) Saad Khattak said that no power on the earth can break the bonds between Pakistani and the Kashmiri people. Those who view that the Kashmir issue had ended after August 5, have misconception. “The martyrdom of Pakistan Army personnel on the front of Kashmir is an irrefutable proof of the love and commitment of the Kashmir people with Pakistan,” he added.