Is it a Struggle for Freedom or Terrorism in Kashmir?
Pakistan has launched a major diplomatic offensive against India and it has already taken the Kashmir issue successfully to the United Nations.
By Rakesh Raman
Pakistan has responded sharply to Indian government’s repeated assertions that the trouble in Kashmir is because of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and Kashmir is an integral part of India.
Pakistan said today that it clearly opposes India’s attempts to equate right to self determination’s legitimate struggle in Kashmir with terrorism.
Sartaj Aziz, an adviser to Pakistan Prime Ministe Nawaz Sharif, called for a just settlement of the issue of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) according to the wishes of the Kashmiri people, as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council Resolution, which he said was a pre-requisite for peace in South Asia.
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He also raised the issue of grave violation of human rights committed by Indian forces in the Indian-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan suggests that India should stop human rights violations in Indian-occupied Kashmir and must understand that the will of the people has to be established.
Speaking to members of the Pakistani community in New York on Sunday afternoon, Pakistan Prime Ministe Nawaz Sharif also reiterated that the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was only possible through the realization of the Kashmiris’ right to self determination.
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“The freedom struggle of the people of Kashmir had been successfully passing from generations and now the Kashmiri youth had instilled a fresh vigour into the movement,” Nawaz Sharif said.
He also said that Pakistan was emerging as the fastest growing economy in Asia and it has been duly acknowledged by the international financial institutions, rating agencies, and renowned publications globally.
“We have been focusing our energies entirely on eradicating terrorism and extremism from our country, revival of economy, and achieving energy self sufficiency,” Nawaz Sharif said.
Pakistan has launched a major diplomatic offensive against India and it has already taken the Kashmir issue successfully to the United Nations (UN).
As a result, the UN has offered to mediate between India and Pakistan to resolved the Kashmir conflict. In a letter written to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appreciated the commitment of Pakistan to a peaceful resolution of Kashmir for the sake of regional peace and security.
Pakistan on Sunday also rejected the Indian allegations of involvement in an attack on Indian security forces in Indian-occupied Kashmir’s Uri area near Line of Control (LoC).
Militants had attacked an Indian army camp on Sunday and killed 17 soldiers in Uri in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir.
In the wake of the Uri terror attack, PM @narendramodi chairs a high level meeting. pic.twitter.com/pwTcvNowHi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 19, 2016
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting today in New Delhi to assess the situation after the Uri attack on Indian army.
Photo courtesy: PMO India
