Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif today once again praised slain Hizbul militant Burhan Wani, calling him a ‘freedom fighter’.
Maintaining that his government is committed to the Kashmir cause, Sharif, said, “India is mistaken if it considers that a freedom fight can be equated with terrorism.”
“No power in the world can stop us from supporting the freedom struggle of Kashmiris. Burhan Wani was a freedom fighter and pride of Kashmiri people and nobody can deprive them of that pride,” Sharif said while chairing a meeting of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Central Working Committee held in Islamabad.
Sharif had earlier glorified Burhan Wani during his speech at the UNGA as well.
“Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement, led by Kashmiris, young and old, men and women, armed only with an undying faith in the legitimacy of their cause, and a hunger for freedom in their hearts,” he had said.
Sharif’s pitch, however, found no takers, with UN refusing to take up the issue altogether.
India had criticised Sharif for calling Wani a ‘martyr’.
Wani was killed on July 8 during a gunfight with Indian security forces in Kashmir. His death had triggered worst violence in Valley. So far more than 80 civilians have lost their lives.
