Kashmir is not an Indo-Pak issue: Salahuddin

Rejecting India's contention that Kashmir is a bilateral issue, Pakistan-based terrorist commander Syed Salahuddin on Tuesday said Kashmiris will never accept any solution that is thrust upon them.

Reacting to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's recent statement that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral matter to be resolved in line with accords between the two countries, the chief of United Jihad Council, a conglomerate of various terrorist groups, claimed bilateral pacts have no relevance for Kashmiris.

In a statement, Salahuddin said Kashmiris will never accept any solution thrust upon them to facilitate the 'division of Kashmir' and claimed that the Simla Accord and Lahore Declaration hold no relevance for Kashmiris as none of their representatives was present when these pacts were signed.

'Besides, there are UN Security Council resolutions that advocate the right to self-determination for Kashmiris,' the statement said.

'Unless Kashmiris are granted their right to self-determination, they will continue their struggle and not accept any solution which facilitates the division of Kashmir,' Salahuddin said.