960421

Kashmir issue

discussed on UN

radio in Geneva

ISLAMABAD: Professor William Baker, author of Kashmir, Happy Valley,Valley of Death and Human Rights activist, declared that Kashmir is not only occupied by the Indian army but it is under siege.

Professor Baker, who visited Kashmir, told a radio interviewer that he had never seen such a concentration of an occupation army anywhere in the world. He made these remarks when he appeared on a radio program on Geneva-based "Freely Speaking" with Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, executive director of Washington-based Kashmiri American Council.

The American author said that it was most unfortunate that such terror was being inflicted on a people who were peace loving, intelligent and want to exercise God given right to self-determination. He quoted extensively from his book to support his assertion that India could only continue to hold Kashmir through its 650,000 strong army of occupation.

Dr.Ghulam Nabi Fai told the interviewer that the Kashmiri delegation had come to the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva because they still harbor hope that this UN body can help alleviate their sufferings. The executive director declared that it is a misconception that the leaders of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC) are apprehensive of the outcome of a vote in Kashmir. He said if it was so then why the APHC's only demand was that the UN mandated plebiscite should be held. Dr. Fai reiterated that the APHC's stand was unambiguous because it only wants the United Nations to hold its promised referendum.-APP