Srinagar: The representative of ailing separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani has asked Pakistan not to change the status quo of Gilgit-Baltistan.
In a statement , representative of ailing leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Abdullah Gilani has asked Pakistan to maintain its consistent policy on Kashmir.
“The recent unfortunate decision to grant Gilgit and Baltistan the status of a provisional province represent a major shift in Pakistan’s so far consistent policy.”
“While the local population in Gilgit and Baltistan may have some genuine grievances and concerns and Pakistan is duty-bound to address them, we believe the purpose could have been efficiently and sufficiently served without altering the status quo. The move, in our view, is laden with disastrous consequences. Pakistan risks not only weakening its position and losing moral high ground but also demoralizing Kashmiri people.”
The statement reads that: “This unfortunate and unwise move is particularly more detrimental in the context of India’s 5 August 2019 aggression. With this, Pakistan is handing India a baton to beat it with. India would welcome this opportunity as a blessing in disguise and use it to justify its 5 August 2019 decision of revoking Kashmir’s special status and merging it.”
“We, therefore, earnestly urge the government of Pakistan to rethink the decision granting provisional provincial status to Gilgit and Baltistan keeping in view all aspects, particularly, the possible detrimental repercussions it would have on the future of Kashmir as a dispute and, consequently, on its final settlement,” the statement reads. (KNT)
