GENEVA: Benazir Bhutto told the international community that ‘he people of Jammu and Kashmir were hungry for freedom from India and that the world should prevail upon India to end what she said was a Campaign of ross human rights violations remains cent of the darkest days of the holocaust. _ Opening the 50th session of the Human Rights Commission the ‘Pakistan Premier said the Kashmiri political leadership repavsenting over 30 parties and groups has uniinimousty declared At will not contemplate any solution which implies the continuation of India rule Their demand is simple Azaadi (independence). Bhutto thundered from a special

Podium erected at the high profile UN human rights body that even is Pakistan was urging that both Countries come to the negotiating table India had chosen the gun.

We stressed that India seek peaceful rather than military solution to the Kashmir dispute and take visible steps to reduce repression Instead the oppression increased she said

The Indian delegation led by Finance Minister Manmohan Singh and including Farook Abdulla asked for an immediate Tight of reply even though rules allow that only at the end of the session.

Exercising the right to reply In did told the world community that Kashmir was an integral part of the country and Pakistan which has occupied a third of Kashmir for the past47 years is ill-equipped to talk about freedom for Kashmiris

India’s delegate Farooq Abdullah Said Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto does not know the meaning of the word Azaadi. She does not know the meaning of the word freedom since it is her country which has illegally occupied Kashmir for47 years.

The Pakistani Premier said the settlement of the Kashmir dispute based on the wishes of its people was the key to peace and progress in South Asia

Telling the gathering that there was no difference between what was happening in Bosnia and Kashmir she said It is long past the time for India to provide access to International media

Farook Abdullah told the commission India had the second highest number of Muslims in the world Afier Indonesia and the community was growing and prospering. In Pakistan the number of minority has dwindled to a few million if this is not ethnic cleansing what is it? He asked

Why are Ahmadiya not allowed to pray and propagate their religion in Pakistan? Why are Shias being repressed in Pakistan don’t they read the same Quran I do? Abdullah asked.

Abdullah then went on quote chapter and verse from independent reports including one from the United States government documenting the role of Pakistani trained militants and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

Abdullah then went on to warn other nations against the spread of Islamic fundamentalism that Pakistan was exporting. Beware of this Trojan horse that is Pakistan. We all know what they did in Egypt We all know what they did in Algeria god knows which is the next country they will attack.

Replying to India the Pakistani representative said Kashmir was a disputed territory and instead of accepting that India was raising extraneous issues.

The Kashmir issue is expected to bound this session since Pakistan is hoping to push through a resolution.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 18, 1994