[Reader-list] Burns’s remarks on Kashmir flayed

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

The Tribune, Chandigarh

Burns’s remarks on Kashmir flayed
*Tribune News Service*

Jammu, June 12
Dr. Agnishekhar and Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, co-chairpersons of The Panun
Kashmir, organisation of Kashmiri Pandits, expressed concern over the
statement issued by US under secretary of state William Burns regarding the
Kashmir imbroglio. His statement that the Indian government should take into
account the wishes of the Kashmiri people in the resolution of Kashmir issue
is tantamount to undue interference in the affairs of a sovereign State like
India. It is negation of the UN secretary general’s view that the resolution
of UNO regarding Kashmir is now irrelevant.Instead of making Pakistan
accountable to the world community in context of terrorist crimes, grave
human rights violations, involvement in drugs and weapons trade, nourishing
fundamentalist ideology and mushrooming of terror camps on its soil, the US
has taken a “dramatic shift” from its stated position on all these issues.
This shift in its position will give rise to escalation of violence in the
state of Jammu and Kashmir and further delay establishment of peace in the
region, particularly when the Secretary of State of US is supposed to visit
this region.

Dr. Agnishekhar said: "Any undue interference by a third party in the issues
of bilateral concern between India and Pakistan is in violation of the
Shimla Agreement and the Agreement reached thereafter between India and
Pakistan. The India is committed to the unanimous Resolution passed by
Parliament in 1994 that the J & K State as it existed in August 1947 is a
part of  Indian and the issue regarding the areas of Jammu and Kashmir
occupied by Pakistan is the only issue of discussion with Pakistan."