Pakistan says Kashmir still core dispute with India

Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday said Kashmir remained the core dispute between Pakistan and India, and its resolution was imperative to bring peace to South Asia.

Speaking to a nine-member delegation of All-Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) here, adviser to the Prime Minister on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz underscored that the people of Kashmir were waging a “heroic and just struggle” against India.

“Pakistan pays rich tribute to Kashmiris for their unmatched sacrifices and unparalleled resilience,” Mr Aziz said.

The adviser reaffirmed that Pakistan stood behind Kashmiris in extending political, diplomatic and moral support to their “just struggle.”

Pakistan, he said, continues to pursue its principled position on Kashmir and extends its steadfast support to the Kashmiris, as “Kashmir cause remains close to the hearts of every Pakistani.” The adviser underlined that the international community had rejected “Indian attempts to equate the indigenous self-determination movement of Kashmiris with terrorism.”

In this regard, he mentioned the outcome document of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit in Istanbul last year, and the resolution adopted at the Council of Foreign Ministers, which was held in Abidjan last week.

He noted that Kashmiri diaspora abroad, and members of the civil society in various countries had been holding events to “highlight Indian atrocities in Kashmir.”

The Kashmiri delegation briefed the adviser on the “grave human rights situation in Kashmir” and expressed concern over the “policy of genocide being pursued by Indian forces” as manifested in the “continued bloodshed of defenceless Kashmiris with impunity.”

They expressed deep appreciation of Kashmiris for the effective efforts and strong support of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the Kashmiri cause.

The delegation underscored that the indigenous movement of Kashmiris for their right to self-determination had entered an important phase since the death of Burhan Muzaffar Wani on July 8, 2016.
 
“Today’s meeting is significant, as the day marks the observance of Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan (accession to Pakistan), on 19 July 1947,” a foreign ministry statement said.