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Pak minister: Policy on Kashmir is unchanged
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ASIANAGE on 06 October, 2008 03:11:20
 
By OUR PAKISTAN CORRESPONDENT
Islamabad
Oct. 6: Pakistan information minister Sherry Rehman on Monday said that the
government has not changed the policy on Kashmir.
"President Asif Ali Zardari had not linked the liberation struggle in Kashmir
with terrorism. The Kashmir policy of the Pakistan People’s Party government
has not changed at all," she said in a statement. Mr Zardari has told the Wall
Street Journal in an interview that there were "terrorists" inside
Kashmir."President Zardari has not termed the Hurriyat leaders in Kashmir as
terrorists. President Zardari has never linked liberation movement in Kashmir
with terrorism," Ms Rehman said.
She reiterated that the PPP government is determined to hold talks with India
on Kashmir dispute for its amicable resolution.
She said that all three stakeholders of the Kashmir issue, the people of
Kashmir, Pakistan and India, should hold talks for an amicable solution of the
dispute. Ms Rehman said that there was no change in PPP’s stance over Kashmir.
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Karzai brother denies link in heroin trade
Kabul, Oct. 6: President Hamid Kar- zai’s brother denied on Monday that he
has ever been involved in Afghanistan’s heroin trade and accused US officials
of fabricating allegations to harm the President.
Ahmed Wali Karzai said no one has ever been able to prove that he is involved
in drugs. The issue was revived over the weekend after the New York Times
reported that two unnamed US officials said the White House believes Wali Karzai
is involved in heroin trafficking.
Mr Wali Karzai said US officials are trying to put political pressure on
President Karzai for two reasons, to deflect attention from civilian casualties
caused by US military actions and force Karzai’s government to release a
prisoner the US wants to talk to.
"Whenever there is a problem between the Afghan President and the international
community I have been used as a punching bag," said Mr Wali Karzai, who called a
news conference in Kandahar on Monday to address the Times article.
"I challenge everyone in the international community and in Afghanistan that
they are welcome to take me to court. If they can prove (allegations), I am
ready to serve any kind of justice," Mr Wali Karzai said. Mr Wali Karzai is
chairman of the provincial council in Kandahar in southern Afghanistan.
Afghanistan produces over 90 per cent of the world’s opium, the raw
ingredient for making heroin. Its market value is in the billions of dollars.
—AP