ISLAMABAD: Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan on Thursday said Kashmiris were a gallant nation and they would continue fighting until they are granted their inherent right to self-determination in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions and their own aspirations. Speaking at Kashmir Conference organised by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and Kashmir Media Service at Kashmir House, he termed India a coward enemy who is struggling hard to fight poorly equipped 250 militants with its 700,000 soldiers. The conference was also addressed by Kashmir & Gilgit Baltistan Affairs Federal Minister Ali Amin Gundapur, Pakistan People’s Party Leader Senator Rehman Malik, Indian-Held Kashmir (IHK) Jamaat-e-Islami Leader Ghulam Muhammad Safi, Kashmir American Council Executive Director Dr Imtiaz, AJK Human Rights Council Chairman Dr Nazir Gillani, Foreign Affairs former secretary Azaz Chaudhry, APHC Convener Syed Faiz Naqashbandi, Kashmir Media Service Director Sheikh Tajamul Islam, Dr Zafar Bangash, Younas Nabi Baig, Abdul Hamid Lone and others. AJK President Sardar Masood Khan while referring to statements of Indian defense ministry officials, who claimed that there are hardly 200 to 250 militants in the occupied valley, questioned that why India needs 700,000 army to fight a few hundred militants? “India on one hand claims the presence of a couple of 100 militants in IHK and on the other it did not explain why there is a need to have 700,000 Indian forces and black laws in the occupied state,” he emphasised. The president said that in fact, Indian army backed by infamous Armed Forces Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act is meant to suppress the political aspirations of the people of IHK and their just struggle. Terming people of Kashmir as most brave and courageous nation of the world, Sardar Masood Khan said they are fighting an armed to the teeth occupier with sticks and stones for over 70 years. “They are neither disappointed nor tired of their struggle to kick the aggressor out of their land,” Masood Khan said and added that Kashmiris are struggling for their freedom and will continue their fight relentlessly until the desired goal is achieved. “The Kashmiri youth, mostly teenagers are being blinded on mass-scale and women are raped to break the will of Kashmiri people but India will never be able to succeed in its nefarious designs and ill motives,” he added. Khan further said that IHK army’s brutalities and barbaric acts have crossed all the limits especially in indiscriminate use of pellets guns for mass blinding of youth, which the global media has termed as the first mass blinding in human history. He urged India to respond positively to Pakistan’s offer of dialogue and opening of Kartarpur corridor as a confidence building measure. New Delhi should respond by halting military operation in IHK and releasing all political prisoners detained and imprisoned in different jails of IHK and India. The AJK president also paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of Kashmir struggle and said it is the blood of Kashmiris that has kept the Kashmir issue alive. Published in Daily Times, December 14th 2018.