PM Modi's statement on PoK, Gilgit-Baltistan a 'positive step': exiled PoK leader

Geneva [Switzerland], Sept. 25 (ANI): With Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautioning the people of Pakistan that their leaders were misleading them by talking about Kashmir when they could not even take care of the part of Kashmir under Pakistan's occupation, exiled Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) leader Mumtaz Khan on Sunday said it is a positive step and statement regarding PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan, though it is late, and hoped it wasn't a tactical statement. Khan said, "We have a government in PoK, but it has no powers and has no control over their resources, or on political decision making, or on other issues. And, it's not a new issue. I mean, the government we have has always been a kind of an extension or the proxy of the Pakistani political parties. They don't talk about the empowerment of that area, the people, the region, and it is directly controlled by Pakistan, I mean, a few bureaucrats and the Minister for Kashmir Affairs and the military court commander sitting in Murree." "So, there are serious issues with respect to the PoK government and the region, and the political issues, and people have serious grievances against Islamabad. But unfortunately, it has never been taken by any other government internationally seriously, because Indian Kashmir has always been in the limelight and our issues have been always neglected and ignored," he told ANI here. Addressing a public rally in Kozhikode, Kerala, on Saturday evening, Prime Minister Modi cautioned the people of Pakistan that their leaders were misleading them by talking about Kashmir when they can't even take care of the part of Kashmir under Pakistan's occupation and could not retain East Pakistan, which is Bangaldesh today. With Prime Minister's Modi urging the people of Pakistan to ask their leaders why is it that Pakistan is exporting terrorists to the world while India is exporting software, Mumtaz Khan said, "It is a very unfortunate situation with respect to Pakistan and the Pakistan Government. And, when I refer to the Pakistan government, I don't refer to the civilian government, because no civilian government has control over the political decision-making or foreign policy or any other issue." He said it is not only Prime Minister Modi who talks about extremism and terrorism which is becoming a serious threat to the rest of the region and within Pakistan, and pointed out that the United States, Europe and other governments have raised this issue as well. Even Pakistan's closest ally China has expressed such concerns many times with respect to the Pakistan militant and extremist groups causing a serious threat to the region. "Take an example of the Taliban, which is sitting in Pakistan and has been attacking Afghanistan. And similarly, other Pakistan militant groups like Difa-e-Pakistan comprising Pakistan's militants and extremist groups, they are openly calling for a Kashmir jihad, collecting funds in the name of Kashmir jihad and nobody is stopping them. Pakistan needs to take this threat seriously," he said. He added that the military regime, especially the generals ought to review their policies with respect to just keeping the military in the political limelight and in the name of a threat to Pakistan's security and all those things. "The security doctrine they have created in response to the perceived Indian threat is only to serve the interests of the military, and it is not serving the interests of the common people in Pakistan, which is really an unfortunate situation and a serious problem for the rest of the region," Khan added. Describing terrorism as enemy of the entire humanity, Prime Minister Modi said Pakistani leaders are talking about a having thousands of years of war with India. he said he is prepared to take up this challenge and that the day is not far off when the people of Pakistan will come out to fight against terrorism. Prime Minister Modi also warned the Pakistani leadership that the Uri attack won't be forgotten and that the sacrifice of 18 soldiers would not go in vain. He said India would mount an all-out offensive to isolate Pakistan diplomatically to expose its activities in exporting terror. (ANI)