Peshawar: The ‘movement for rights’ launched by the people of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir has received “full support” from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which invited them to start an armed struggle as “Pakistan understands only a strong language”.
“Reports are coming from Kashmir that the people there are being mistreated,” said TTP in a statement.
It likened the situation to the brutality committed by Pakistani forces in Balochistan and against tribals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.
“The nation once is again witnessing the unleashing of the paramilitary force FC (Frontier Corps) on those who demand their rights and Independence to slaughter them,” the TTP said, while referring to the firing on protestors by the military.
“The demands of the people of Kashmir are legitimate that the protocol system (which costs crores of rupees) should be stopped, electricity obtained from the dams of Kashmir should be given tax-free to Kashmiris, the quality of flour should be improved and taxes should be reduced,” it said.
“Instead of accepting the legitimate demands, they (protestors) were fired upon,” said the statement issued by TTP spokesman Muhammad Khurasani.
“They (Pakistani forces) resorted to extreme cruelty and coercion against the Kashmiri people,” he said.
“The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan declares full public support on this issue and warns the security agencies that they should stop this game of bloodshed,” the spokesman said.
Lambasting the Pakistan army, the TTP described it as “the successor of the British imperialism that has been imposed on Pakistan for seven decades, operating at the behest of the Western powers.”
The TTP said it is possible that Pakistan may declare the current peaceful movement of Kashmiris as violent and criminalise it and consequently bring Kashmir completely under the oppressive regime of Pakistan like the states of Swat and Kalat etc., depriving Kashmiris of their legitimate rights,” the spokesman said.
“Therefore, we want to tell Kashmiris that the forces of Pakistan do not consider verbal protest as acceptable. They (Pakistan) understand only the iron language. So, they (Kashmiris) should try to save their nation by starting an armed struggle against them (Pakistan),” it said.
The TTP, which is militarily fighting against the Pakistan Army, offered to help Kashmiris if they intend to start an armed struggle.
