Pakistan spreading communalism in Kashmir, says exiled UKPNP chief

By Ravi Khandelwal Geneva (Switzerland), Sept. 17 (ANI): Strongly condemning Jama'at-ud-Da'wah chief Hafiz Saeed's slogan 'Kashmir banega Pakistan' (Kashmir will become Pakistan), exiled United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) chief Shaukat Ali on Saturday said Islamabad is spreading communalism in the valley. "Pakistan says whatever feels like. Pakistan is not comfortable with democracy. Pakistan's sitting Prime Minister is called an Indian agent. These are false slogans of Pakistan. These are slogans to divide Kashmir. Jammu province is a Hindu majority, Ladakh is a Buddhist majority. What attractions will a Buddhist or a Hindu have in Pakistan?" Ali told ANI. Ali said Kashmir will become Pakistan is a useless slogan, which does not reflect reality. "Pakistan is trying to spread communalism in Kashmir. The communal forces of Pakistan and those who are close to the establishment thinks they would get Kashmir by this slogan....which they won't get. Until Pakistan makes space for secular people, or changes its policies, it should be boycotted," he added. Further escalating his attack on Pakistan, Ali said those who use religion and terrorism as weapons, use this slogan. "The ambassador in PoK was made the president of Pakistan. He has never said a word about civil society. A nationalist, secular and democratic Kashmiri will never support this slogan. Those who are standing against time and uses religion have made this slogan. Pakistan at times uses religion and terrorism as weapons and tools. When its repercussions come, they say sorry and talk about good terrorist and bad terrorist," he added. Ali said the United Nations which has declared Hafiz Saeed, Jaish-e-Mohammad as terrorist and terrorist organisations are Pakistan's favourite. "The civilian police are not even given relief in their camps. Pakistan's duplicity won't work now. If Pakistan handles its situation within the area then also I believe it would be great. So, Kashmir won't become Pakistan," he added. India has said that Pakistan is a nation that practices terrorism on its own people and the sufferings of the people of Balochistan are a telling testimony in this regard. Raising the Balochistan issue for the second time in three days at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on Friday, New Delhi said Pakistan carries the reputation of being the global epicentre of terrorism. It urged Islamabad to focus its energies on improving the human rights situation and dismantling the terrorism infrastructure in the country and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir to bring peace and stability to the region and beyond. India also said that Pakistan's unwarranted comments pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India, are factually incorrect. It said Islamabad is trying to misuse the platform for political objectives. New Delhi also said Pakistan keeps referring to UN Security Council Resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir but it forgets its own obligation under these resolutions to first vacate the illegal occupation of PoK. (ANI)