US sanctions on Kashmiri militant flayed
Interior minister says move against Syed Salahuddin ‘is completely unjustified’
Pakistan yesterday strongly criticised the US decision to impose sanctions on Syed Salahuddin, senior leader of the Kashmiri militant group Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.
“The designation of individuals supporting the Kashmiri right to self-determination as terrorists is completely unjustified,” the foreign office said in a statement.
Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan yesterday said it was a matter of great concern that US administration had started speaking the tone of India, which was not only involved in massive human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir but also suppressing Kashmiris’ legitimate and just movement for the right to self-determination.
India is also busy in its efforts to present Kashmiris’ indigenous movement for their right to self-determination as ‘terrorism,’ and every principled and living nation should have concern on its atrocious behaviour, he said in a statement.
The interior minister said it reflected from the US government’s statement given after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’ visit to White House that there was no importance to the blood of innocent Kashmiris in the eyes of United States.
“We will continue to fight the case of Kashmir at every forum of the world and shake the conscience of international community,” he said.
Chaudhry Nisar said there would be no compromise on the legitimate right of people of Kashmir and the support of Pakistan would continue till giving Kashmiris their right in line with the resolutions passed by the United Nations Security Council to uphold the principle of fair play and justice.
He said getting freedom from Indian subjugation and right to self-determination was the destiny of people of Kashmir and no world power could deprive the Kashmiris of their legitimate right.
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen is one of several home-grown militant groups that have for decades been fighting troops and police deployed in the Indian sector, calling for independence or a merger with Pakistan.
The Pakistani statement complained of “gross and systematic violations of human rights” in Indian-administered Kashmir.
“Over the past one year, the world has witnessed an intensification of the brutal policies of repression being pursued by the Indian occupation forces.”
The sanctions move means the United States now considers Salahuddin, also known as Mohammad Yousuf Shah, a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist”, the State Department said in a statement.
US officials said Salahuddin last September vowed to block any peaceful resolution to the Kashmir conflict, and threatened to train more suicide bombers and to turn the disputed valley “into a graveyard for Indian forces”.
The new sanctions mean American citizens are generally barred from doing business with Salahuddin, and all his assets subject to US jurisdiction are blocked.
The State Department said that under Salahuddin, Hizbul-Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for several attacks.
The designation was announced just before Narendra Modi was due at the White House for his first face-to-face meeting with President Donald Trump.