Kashmir can’t be set aside, struggle for freedom must continue: Sardar Masood Khan
Islamabad: Former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and distinguished diplomat Sardar Masood Khan has stated that not only AJK but also Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir serves as Pakistan’s defensive shield.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Sardar Masood Khan made the remarks while addressing the Kashmir Conference, jointly organized by the Pakistan Ideology Council and the English daily Pakistan Observer in Islamabad. He expressed concern over suggestions that Kashmir should be set aside temporarily, warning against compromising on the issue.
Drawing parallels with South Africa’s long struggle against apartheid, he asserted that persistence and commitment to the cause would ultimately lead to success. “The vision on which the founders built Pakistan will undoubtedly be achieved. We must not bow down to pressures arising from unfavorable circumstances,” he maintained.
He also warned of India’s attempts to divide Kashmiris by promoting narratives that shift focus away from freedom and self-determination towards the idea of an “independent Kashmir.” This, he said, is a deliberate strategy to weaken the freedom movement.
Terming Azad Kashmir as Pakistan’s first line of defense, he stressed that unrest, mistrust, or confusion within the region would not be in the country’s interest. He emphasized the need to address AJK’s internal issues while expressing solidarity with the people of IIOJK.
“Today, despite the occupation, Kashmiris have tied down one million Indian troops in IIOJK. Had they not kept these forces engaged, this massive army would have been actively pursuing hostile intentions against Pakistan,” he warned.
Commenting on India’s 2019 abrogation of Kashmir’s special status and subsequent actions, Sardar Masood Khan explained how India has since altered the occupied territory’s demography. He said that India was settling non-Kashmiris in IIOJK, manipulating electoral boundaries to weaken Muslim representation, and seizing land from Kashmiri Muslims to resettle Indian citizens.
