NEW DELHI – Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Saturday said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif must know Kashmir would “never” become “a part of Pakistan”, responding to the premier’s fiery call for freedom in the valley after his party swept the Legislative Assembly Elections in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, the Pakistani-administered part of the disputed territory.
Speaking to media at a press conference, Swaraj said: “The whole of India wants to tell the Pakistani premier in one voice that his and Pakistan’s dream (of making Kashmir its part) will never come true.”
“The Pakistani PM says his prayers are with people of Kashmir. I must remind him that Pakistan has never prayed for the people of the valley but has given them the pain in the form of terrorism,” said Swaraj.
She also accused the PM of backing militants with the help of UN designated terrorists and notorious figures like Hafiz Saeed, in order to stoke unrest in the valley.
She also denounced Nawaz Sharif’s condemnation of separatist commander Burhan Wani’s killing by Indian forces and asked him why he described Wani as a martyr despite knowing that he was a part of the ‘terrorist group’ Hizbul Mujahideen.
Earlier, while addressing a public gathering on Friday after his party’s victory in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Pakistan administered part of Kashmir) elections, Nawaz Sharif said: “We are waiting for the day Kashmir becomes Pakistan.”
On the occasion, he also added: “Their movement for freedom cannot be stopped and it will be successful. You are aware of how they are being beaten and killed.”
