Hurriyat leader launches tirade against Delhi

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, APRIL 18. The All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) executive member and Chairman of the People's League, Shaikh Abdul Aziz, began his three-week visit to Pakistan today a bang calling for ``Kashmir's accession to Pakistan''.

Mr. Aziz, who arrived in Lahore on Tuesday night, left no one in doubt about his pro-Pakistani leanings by his unambiguous and categorical statements on ``overwhelming desire'' in a majority of Kashmiris to be part of Pakistan.

There indeed was no surprise in his assertions but a curious factor is the reported presence of some Pakistan-based diplomats including the US Consul in Lahore when Mr. Aziz landed at the airport.

Mr. Aziz is here in connection with the marriage of his younger brother on April 22. However, minutes after his arrival Mr. Aziz made it clear he was open to talks with the ``Pakistani leadership and other organisations''. That the military establishment went out of its way to accord a warm reception to him was evident from the crowds that had come to greet him at the airport. A number of slogan-chanting and placard waving supporters showered rose petals on him.

The Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) ran an interview with Mr. Aziz. It was in the course of his conversation with the agency that he called for Kashmir's accession to Pakistan.

He denounced the Indian Government's latest move to appoint the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Mr. K.C. Pant, as a `ploy' and called for implementation of the U.N. resolutions on Kashmir.

Mr. Aziz said the APP that the objective of the APHC and that of the militants was to ``liberate Kashmir from Indian occupation'' and said the `mujahideen' could not be branded terrorists. He thanked the Government and the people of Pakistan for their `political and diplomatic' support to the people of Kashmir at all the international forums.

The Kashmir issue could definitely be resolved in peaceful manner and dialogue and accused New Delhi of creating obstacles.

``An emotionally charged Aziz, after getting down from the gangway of the PIA plane, kissed the Pakistani soil and was profusely garlanded by the members of the various Kashmiri organisations'', the APP said in its dispatch from Lahore.

In the evening Mr. Aziz was the guest of honour at a function to commemorate the anniversary of one of the Chairman of the People's League, S. Hamid. Among those present included the former chief of the ISI, Lt. Gen. (retd) Hamid Gul and representatives of several Pakistani based militant organisations.

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