MUZAFARABAD (Web Desk) – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that resolution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions is imperative for durable peace in the region.
Addressing the joint session of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and Kashmir Council in Muzaffarabad today, he said Pakistan will continue to extend moral, diplomatic and political support to Kashmiri people for their unprecedented struggle for the right to self- determination.
In addition, Pakistan seeks meaningful and result oriented dialogue with India for the resolution of outstanding issues. However the agenda of Pakistan-India dialogue will remain inconclusive without inclusion of Kashmir dispute.
The Prime Minister once again reaffirmed that Pakistan will not accept any solution of Kashmir dispute that is contrary to the aspirations of Kashmiri people.
Paying rich tributes to the martyrs of Kashmir cause, Nawaz Sharif said despite the brutal use of force by the 700,000 Indian troops, the Kashmiri people are relentlessly continuing their struggle for their just cause.
Time is not far away when the clouds of oppression will shed and the Kashmiri people will see the dawn of independence, he said, and added that the international community has also recognized that the struggle of Kashmiri people could not be suppressed through the use of force.
Nawaz Sharif said he has forcefully raised the Kashmir dispute at the international forums including the United Nations and the OIC. He said the United Nations will have to break its silence on the implementation of its resolutions on Kashmir dispute.
Referring to the close affinity between Pakistanis and Kashmiris spanning over centuries, the Prime Minister said no power of the world can break this strong bond.
About the development schemes in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan has been put on the path of development and it is our earnest desire that this area prosper with the same pace. He said the government is providing resources for the timely completion of development schemes in Azad Kashmir. Resources have been provided for the Neelum Jhelum project as this mega project will generate economic activity and benefit the local population.
He said that Pakistan-China economic corridor project will also benefit the people of Azad Kashmir. This project envisages construction of basic infrastructure and establishment of power plants. Expressway will be constructed from Khunjerab to Islamabad and work on Gilgit-Raikot section has already been started. Murree-Islamabad expressway will be extended up to Muzaffarabad.
The Prime Minister said he will visit Muzaffarabad early next month along with his team to review the development schemes. Special arrangements will be made for completion of all development schemes in Azad Kashmir. He assured that problems faced by Kashmiri Mohajreen will also be addressed on a priority basis.
He also assured that the building of Azad Kashmir legislative assembly will also be constructed at the earliest and this will be a gift from Pakistan for AJK.
Turning to terrorism, the Prime Minister said the menace will be eliminated at all costs and no compromise will be made on it. He said the operation against terrorists has been started with consensus. Counter terrorism force has become functional in Punjab and this force will be established in other provinces as well. He said all the political parties should remain united to rid the country of this menace.
He said the government was working to further strengthen democracy and was treating all provinces equally.
Earlier, AJK Prime Minister Abdul Majid in his remarks appreciated the Prime Minister for forcefully presenting the aspirations of the Kashmiri people at the United Nations and other international forums.
Leader of Opposition in Azad Kashmir legislative assembly Raja Farooq Haider said the Kashmiri people have rendered matchless sacrifices in the struggle for self- determination.
President of All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan strongly condemned the Indian human rights violations in the occupied valley. He said the Kashmiri people should also be involved in any future dialogue process with India for resolution of longstanding Kashmir issue.
