US declared Hizbul Mujahideen leader Syed Salahuddin a global terrorist, Pakistan calls him 'freedom fighter
Islamabad: Undetterred with the US' decision to designate Hizbul Mujahideen leader Syed Salahuddin as a 'global terrorist', Pakistan has named him as a freedom fighter for the struggle for the independence of Kashmir.
Pakistan's foreign office termed US' decision to label Syed Salahuddin as Specially Designated Global Terrorist as "totally unjustified".
The US decision came days before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to the White House for his initially chats with US President Donald Trump.
The Pakistan Foreign Ministry said the "indigenous battle of Kashmiris" in Jammu and Kashmir "remains legitimate. The assignment of people supporting the Kashmiri appropriate to self-assurance as terrorists is totally unjustified".
As a senior leader of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), the US State Department said in September, 2016, Salahuddin, otherwise called Syed Mohammed Yusuf Shah, pledged to hinder any serene determination to the Kashmir struggle, undermined to prepare more Kashmiri suicide aircraft, and promised to turn the Kashmir valley "into a cemetery for Indian powers".
"Under Salahuddin's residency as senior Hizbul leader, the HM has guaranteed duty regarding a few assaults, including the April 2014 explosives assault in Indian-managed Jammu and Kashmir, which harmed 17 individuals," the State Department said.
Syed Salahuddin, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir however has lived in Pakistan for quite a long time, is known to keep up close ties with the Pakistani military-knowledge set-up.