Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 17: In an unexpected development, top three separatist leaders of Valley today announced their opposition to Pakistan’s proposal of declaring Gilgit Baltistan as its fifth province and termed it unacceptable.
In a joint statement issued here, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin Malik said that Kashmir, Ladakh, Jammu, Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Giglit Baltistan are single entity of the State and political destiny about Jammu and Kashmir is yet to be decided.
Declaring Pakistan as a “prime party” to Kashmir issue, the separatist leadership – who are in loose alliance since last year – expressed their serious concern about proposals of declaring Giglit Baltistan as fifth province of Pakistan and said that it will have damaging impact over the status of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Jammu and 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,” the separatist trio said, adding that J&K is long standing issue in international forums.
The separatists while rejecting any idea of merging of its part or division of State said both India and Pakistan have no authority or right to alter the geographical status of State. They asked Pakistan to show wisdom and desist from such steps which may hamper the political and geographical position of Jammu and Kashmir.
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