UN Credibility Linked To Kashmir Resolution: Geelani

Srinagar, India, Jan 7, IRNA -- Hurriyat Conference leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, said that the questioning of the relevance of UN Resolutions on Kashmir was like questioning the very relevance of the world body. “If the UN Resolutions on Kashmir have become obsolete, then the United Nations too has become obsolete,” Geelani told a seminar titled, “UN Resolutions – A Strong Base for Kashmir Solution” organized by the conglomerate at Hyderpora here. He addressed the seminar on phone from New Delhi where he is camping these days. “Kashmiri people are struggling for a just cause and the UN Resolutions provide a strong base to our case. The only acceptable, democratic solution to Kashmir issue lies in the implementation of UN Resolutions and those who describe these as irrelevant are, in a sense, raising questions over the very existence and purpose of the United Nations,” he said, according to a statement issued here. In view of the changing global scenario, Geelani said, India had no choice but to implement the UN resolutions to salvage its own image. “The UN general-secretary and leadership of India and Pakistan were equally responsible to ensure that 13 million people of Jammu and Kashmir got their right to self determination,” Geelani said, adding that “power-intoxicated India’s intransigence remains the biggest hurdle in implementation of UN resolutions.” “India is a not only a signatory to the UN resolutions but her first prime minister, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, also made a promise to Kashmiris regarding their right to self determination. His words - ‘We are not for forced marriages and if Kashmiris do not vote in favor of India, it will hurt us but we will accept their decision’ - have become a part of history now,” he recalled, adding that Kashmiri people would never surrender before the Indian military might. Accusing imperialist powers of destroying global peace, Geelani said, “where-ever they (imperialist powers) find vast mineral and natural resources, they occupy the areas. This compels the natives to resist such occupation.” He said until the powerful (imperialist) countries vacated the occupied territories, the goal of global peace will remain elusive. Geelani said Islam was a religion of peace and justice and linking it to terrorism was a “conspiracy of imperialist forces.” In his address, Muhammad Yusuf Mir, who chaired the seminar as Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, who was expected to preside over it, remained under house arrest for the fifth day, said the United Nations was losing its credibility due to its dual policies. “It endorsed and supported the demand for freedom in East Timor without loss of any time, but has seldom shown the same earnestness and haste in supporting similar demands from Muslim countries./end