Proposal for merging Gilgit Baltistan as Pakistan's fifth state not acceptable : Kashmir separatist leaders
In a joint statement on Friday, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik said. Jammu and Kashmir is a long-standing issue in the international forum and the world community has agreed to decide its political destiny through resolutions acknowledged by the United Nations.
“People in Jammu & Kashmir have always regarded and accepted the role of Pakistan as a party to the issue, however any step which may hamper the disputed status of Kashmir is unacceptable”, they said.
The joint leadership expressed their serious concern over the proposals of declaring Giglit Baltistan as the fifth province of Pakistan, saying it will have a damaging impact on Kashmir's disputed status.
They said unless and until the people of the state are provided an opportunity to decide their future through a referendum, no division, alteration and changes are acceptable.
Rejecting any idea of merger of any part of the state or its division, the leaders said, "both India and Pakistan have no authority or right to alter the geographical status of Kashmir.
Geelani, Mirwaiz and Malik also expressed hope that Pakistan Prime minister Nawaz Sharif will fulfil his commitment regarding the geographical entity of Jammu and Kashmir, and will desist from annexing Giglit-Baltistan as the fifth state of Pakistan.
(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)
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