Pakistan Stands Firmly Against All Terrorism

Re “Kashmir’s Killing Season,” editorial, April 8: The question of Pakistan “allowing terrorists to slip into” Indian-occupied Kashmir does not arise, because Pakistan has repeatedly made clear that it would not allow its soil to be used for terrorism against any country. The effective steps taken by Pakistan to check the infiltration of religious militants into occupied Kashmir have been widely acknowledged. Pakistan has even proposed the stationing of U.N. observers, or monitors from neutral countries, along the Line of Control to check the possibility of infiltration. It is India that has strangely remained firmly opposed to any such step.

Kashmir is not an Indian state but an internationally recognized disputed territory. The very basis of the dispute is that it is an area with a Muslim majority contiguous to Pakistan that is being denied the right of self-determination through forceful Indian military occupation. As for “terrorism,” the world does not accept the Indian view of Kashmir being a simple case of terrorism. The Kashmiris’ freedom struggle is genuine. During the last nearly 1 1/2 decades, the struggle gained momentum, and it continues unabated. No foreign support or encouragement could sustain such a long struggle if it were not indigenous.

It is in this context that Pakistan has repeatedly asked India to conduct either joint investigations or at least permit neutral investigation into all incidents of violence. There has, however, been no positive response from India. Pakistan’s good faith in resolving this issue stems from the fact that we have made an open offer for dialogue with India to settle the issue through peaceful negotiations, which India has refused repeatedly.

Raana Rahim

Consul General, Pakistan

Los Angeles