Surrounded by four nuclear powers, Kashmir cannot hope to be independent, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Prime Minister Sikander Hayat said Wednesday in Lahore [Images].
Also, an independent Kashmir was not economically feasible as it was landlocked and would have to depend on India and Pakistan for its supplies, he said.
His remarks followed former PoK President Abdul Qayyum Khan's assertion during his recent visit to New Delhi that an independent Kashmir was not possible for the next 100 years.
Qayyum stuck to his stand at a press conference in Islamabad Wednesday, saying that an independent Kashmir was not possible during next 100 years particularly after the experience of the Muslim states of central Asia. "This is nothing but day-dreaming. But still I believe that we should continue to debate and think about the future of Kashmir."
Hayat said the Kashmir issue could be resolved soon if the United States pressurised India. But, he added that Washington was not doing so and instead was trying to establish close ties with New Delhi.
He said Qayyum's recent visit to India was a continuation of backdoor diplomacy.
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