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| India-Pakistan |
| PDP, Hurriyat slam Zardari |
| 2008-10-06 |
| India's minister of state for external affairs welcomed Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari's statement that Kashmiri militants are terrorists, but Kashmiri political parties reacted sharply. "President Zardari's statement describing militants in Jammu and Kashmir as terrorists, a statement made, perhaps, for the first time by a top Pakistani leader which is in contrast with its earlier position of terming militants as jehadis, is confirmation of India's assertions all these years," minister of state for external affairs Anand Sharma told reporters in Shimla. "Zardari's statement is a welcome step. President Zardari and Pakistan should honour the words with action in curbing terrorism." However, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said Zardari needs to be updated about the situation in Kashmir. "The violence in the Valley is on decline. It's Pakistan and India which are confronted with terror attacks. The people of Kashmir have never approved of any kind of violence, particularly against civilians. The movement for permanent settlement of Kashmir issue is peaceful as evident from peaceful demonstration over a period of three months in Kashmir." Hurriyat leaders, too, slammed Zardari for his statement. Fazal Haq Qureshi, a senior Hurriyat leader, told TOI that Kashmiri militants have always behaved within the parameters of humanity. |
| Posted by:Fred |