QUETTA: Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Farooq Haider, who is on a visit to Balochistan these days, called on Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani at the CM Secretariat here on Monday.

During the meeting, Mr Haider and Mr Alyani discussed the situation in India-held Kashmir and the ongoing struggle of Kashmiris for their right to self-determination. The two leaders also discussed other matters of mutual interest.

CM Alyani said that the people of Balochistan would not leave Kashmiris alone in these testing times and would always support their struggle for freedom. He said the Indian government would not succeed in silencing the voice of Kashmiris by using brutal force against them or imposing military siege in the occupied valley.

He said more than one-year-long military siege and the communication blockade imposed by the fascist regime of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was completed. Now the Indian government should realise the fact that through use of brute force, it could not succeed in achieving its nefarious designs in the occupied valley.

AJK premier calls on chief minister in Quetta

Mr Alyani further said that despite the Indian government’s baseless propaganda and media campaigns that tried to show calm and peace in the occupied valley, the world had learnt about atrocities being committed against Kashmiris by Indian forces. The international media had highlighted the plight of the suppressed people of occupied Kashmir, he added.

He said Yaum-i-Istehsal (the day of exploitation) of occupied Kashmir’s residents was widely observed in Balochistan. He said Pakistan would continue its all-out support to the people of Kashmir for their undeniable right of self-determination guaranteed by United Nations resolutions.

He lamented that by violating its own constitution, India had made the life of innocent Kashmiris miserable. Abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A has turned the beautiful valley into a jail. “We reiterate our government’s resolve and want to tell the people of Kashmir that we stand by you and will continue playing our practical role for your just right to self-determination,” he said.

Provincial ministers, including Engineer Zamarak Khan Piralizai, Mir Assad Baloch, Mir Arif Jan Mohammad Hasni, the parliamentary secretary and Chairperson of the Quetta Development Authority Bushra Rind, Balochistan Chief Secretary retired Captain Fazeel Asghar also attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2020