Malaysia-AJK cultural centre to be set up.

Byline: Tariq Naqash

MUZAFFARABAD -- Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan and Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider on Tuesday expressed their gratitude to Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his nation for their principled stand and strong support to the cause of the freedom seeking Kashmiri people.

During their separate meetings with a nine-member delegation of Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organisation (MAPIM), at Kashmir House, both the leaders said they were short of words to express their thankfulness to Dr Mahathir for his unflinching support to the Kashmiris, particularly in the wake of India's Aug 5, 2019, move to scrap the special status of occupied Kashmir.

The purpose of the delegation's visit, according to its leader and MAPIM president Taun Haji Mohd Azmi Abd Hamid, was to promote cultural connections between the Kashmiri and Malaysian youth and raise voice for the people of India-held Kashmir.

Under the umbrella of MAPIM, 'Malaysia-Kashmir Group' had [already] been established with Mohamad Fadhil bin Yusni, coordinator Malaysia-Kashmir Youth Forum, as its head to raise awareness on the plight of the Kashmiri youth in occupied Kashmir, Mr Hamid said.

The AJK president said the Kashmiri people on both sides of the divide saluted the Malaysian leadership for its principled position on Kashmir in spite of Indian threats to cut imports of palm oil, aluminum, gas and computer equipment from Malaysia.

'Dr Mahathir Mohamad has rightly characterised India's action in occupied Kashmir as an invasion and occupation,' said Mr Khan.

He also eulogised Dr Mahathir for taking exception to the new citizenship law in India designed to...