Press Trust of India

New Delhi, July 3:

International Kashmir Alliance, an amalgam of overseas Kashmiri organisations, has asked Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to adopt a pro-people approach on Kashmir issue rather than allowing Pakistan to “use” it for its own interest. In a letter written to OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, London-based IKA Chairman Nazir Gilani blamed the world body of Muslim nations for not understanding the Kashmir problem to its fullest and always promoting the sovereign interest of the Pakistani Government. “Organisation of Islamic Conference unfortunately has got the text of its understanding of the movement of Kashmir wrong at core. OIC has been misled to pedal a very narrow understanding of Kashmir dispute and more so it has acted to advance the sovereign interests of the Government of Pakistan,” Gilani said in his letter.

IKA urges OIC not to allow Pakistan to monopolise the Muslim sentiment over the Kashmir issue, Gilani said, adding “we would be encouraged to see if the OIC takes a pro-people position to safeguard the interests and ensures the progress and well being of all people.”

Asserting that OIC has made a fundamental error in introducing divisive phrase of “true representative of the people of Jammu and Kashmir” in its various resolutions adopted on Kashmir, the IKA chairman said: “The phrase is India specific and Pakistan is given a free hand to continue with constitutional restriants imposed” in occupied Kashmir and Northern Areas. He said the Pakistan Government is “culpable for death of a generation” and “disunity in militant and (speratist) politicians leadership of the state.”

No unilateral flexibility: Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf has said Pakistan will not show unilateral flexibility on Kashmir while calling for an early settlement of the five-decade-old dispute. “We want tension-free ties with India and solid breakthrough on the issue of Kashmir along with confidence-building measures, because this process cannot be dragged on for long,” he said. “Pakistan will not show unilateral flexibility on Kashmir issue,” he added. Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz were at a meeting in Rawalpindi on Saturday to review the regional and international situation and the outcome from their recent visits abroad, The Nation daily reported on Sunday. — HNS