rki.news
Altaf Hamid Rao.
MIRPUR (AJK), February 8: Chairman of the National Kashmir Committee Rana Qasim Noon reiterated Pakistan’s firm resolve that the Kashmir issue remains central to the country’s foreign policy and national security and cannot be relegated to history or closed in any file.
Addressing a crowded news conference at the Kashmir Press Club in Mirpur on Sunday, he stated that Kashmir continues to be a living and dynamic component of Pakistan’s diplomatic agenda and the ongoing struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He was accompanied by Committee members Fatehullah Khan Miankhel and Syed Javed Ali Shah Jilani.
Rana Qasim Noon emphasized that Pakistan’s civil and military leadership stand united on the Kashmir issue and reaffirmed that the voice of the Kashmiri people cannot be suppressed. He maintained that the future of Kashmir must be decided in accordance with United Nations resolutions and expressed confidence that the region would ultimately become part of Pakistan through their implementation. He described the bond between Pakistan and the Kashmiri people as rooted in shared history, sacrifices, and a joint struggle that cannot be weakened.
Criticizing certain past governments for sidelining the issue, he said the current leadership demonstrates complete harmony on this national cause. He reiterated that Kashmir is and will remain part of Pakistan, adding that the slogan of the late Syed Ali Gilani — “We are Pakistanis, Pakistan is ours” — continues to inspire the Kashmiri struggle.
Calling upon the United Nations and the international community to facilitate an early peaceful settlement, he stressed that Kashmir is a recognized international dispute and that the Kashmiri people have been denied their right to self-determination for 76 years, despite similar rights being granted in other regions, including East Timor.
He condemned what he described as increased Indian actions in occupied Kashmir since August 5, 2019, including expanded security deployments, restrictions on journalists, and alleged attempts to silence dissent. He further alleged efforts to alter the region’s demographic composition and identity, asserting that such measures cannot erase the historical and cultural legacy of Jammu and Kashmir.
Drawing a comparison between the situations in Gaza and Kashmir, Rana Qasim Noon said both regions reflect prolonged humanitarian suffering. He reaffirmed that Pakistan stands firmly with the Kashmiri people and remains steadfast in its position on the dispute.
He also referred to recent announcements by the Prime Minister of Pakistan regarding relief measures for Kashmiri refugees, resolution of issues linked to the Mangla Dam Raising Project, and plans for an international airport in Mirpur to serve overseas Kashmiris. He disclosed that helicopter services from Islamabad International Airport to Mirpur, Rawalakot, and Muzaffarabad would be launched as an interim measure.
Concluding, he paid tribute to the late President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhhry, for his longstanding services to the Kashmir cause at national and international levels.