Islamabad: A day after the two countries pledged to resolve the Kashmir issue through a "serious and sustained" dialogue process, a Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir in Pakistan yesterday (Sep 9, 2004) passed a resolution asking India to dismantle the fencing along the Line of Control (LoC) and accused it of occupying Siachen in violation of the Simla accord.

The Kashmir Committee, comprising senior ruling and Opposition party members of Parliament, passed a unanimous resolution "unequivocally" asking the Indian Government to dismantle the fence before the Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC themselves "pulled it down".

Categorically ruling out the conversion of the LoC as border between the two countries, the resolution condemned India for "misusing" Pakistan's "gesture" of unilateral ceasefire to complete the "illegal" fencing.

Claiming that Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC viewed the fencing as a step towards "division" of Kashmir, it called on India to demolish the "illegal" barbed wire fencing.

The resolution charged India with violating the Simla Agreement by "altering" the LoC "unilaterally" by occupying Siachen and other areas along the LoC, including Chor Batla.

The Committee decided to set up four sub-committees to devise a strategy from different angles to highlight the Kashmir issue and mobilise national and international public opinion in favour of Kashmiris right of "self determination". The sub committees will also prepare an appropriate and meaningful media and public diplomacy plan, it said.

The Pakistan occupied kashmir (PoK) leaders including its President, retired General Anwar Khan and Prime Minister, Sikander Hayat urged Pakistan not to abandon its stand on Kashmir.