Pakistan and Kashmir inseparable, reiterates PM

Parliamentary leaders reaffirm Kashmiris' right to self-determination; reject India's claim of 'surgical strikes'

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Monday that the Kashmiri freedom movement would not be suppressed by Indian brutalities anymore.

“Kashmiris and Pakistanis are inseparable. We will leave no stone unturned to highlight Kashmiris' plight across all international forums,” the premier told parliamentary leaders during a high-level huddle on the continuing tensions with India. "We stand united on matters of national importance, particularly Kashmir."

The meeting was chaired by PM Nawaz to formulate a unanimous response on occupied Kashmir and the situation along the Line of Control (LoC).

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan leader Farooq Sattar and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Shireen Mazari were among those present on the occasion.



"The people, government, political parties and the armed forces of Pakistan are firmly united in supporting the Kashmiris' right to self-determination, as guaranteed to them in the United Nations charter," said the joint statement issued after the meeting.

"We condemn the stated intent by India to use water as a weapon against the people, not only of Pakistan but of the region, in flagrant violation of its international treaty obligations and state that any Indian attempts at unilateral revocation of the Indus Water Treaty shall be taken as an act of aggression."

According to the communique, parliamentary leaders "applaud the bravery and unwavering commitment of the armed forces of Pakistan for their befitting response to Indian aggression".

"We reject ludicrous Indian claims of carrying out “surgical strike” across the LoC, as blatantly false and brazen attempts at diverting international attention away from its atrocities in IoK."

The leaders also agreed that in order to coordinate on national security efforts, a national security committee of parliament will be constituted.

Responding to a query on whether the PTI delegation had endorsed all government policies, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the party representatives had highlighted the government's feeble diplomatic efforts on the Kashmir issue.

PM Nawaz Sharif shakes hands with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. PHOTO: EXPRESS

“The prime minister should have mentioned the Balochistan issue in his United Nations General Assembly speech. He should have distinguished between the situation in Kashmir and Balochistan. The prime minister should have also talked about captured RAW agent Kulbhushan Yadav,” the PTI leader added.

Earlier, briefing those present, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said, "India is constantly violating the fundamental human rights of Kashmiris," adding, "An escalation in the situation was witnessed following the killing of separatist leader Burhan Wani by Indian forces [on July 8]."

Bilawal Bhutto said that his party fully supported the premier on Pakistan’s Kashmir cause. “Only a united Pakistan can face Indian aggression and achieve the objectives of national security.”

Terming the situation a “turning point in Indo-Pak relations, the PPP chairperson said that there was no military solution to the Kashmir dispute.

Parliamentary leaders attend an all parties conference in Islamabad on Monday. PHOTO: EXPRESS

Putting aside all differences

Qureshi said that his party had put aside all differences to become a part of today's meeting. "We want to convey this message to India and the entire world that we stand with Kashmiris," he said, adding that India was resorting to aggression, not realising that there was no armed solution to the issue.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq praised the prime minister on holding the meeting at the crucial juncture, saying that the party extended full support to the government, the valiant armed forces and the people of the country. “Today, a unified stance for Pakistan and Kashmir should be formulated in the national interest.”

PM meets PkMAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakazai. PHOTO: EXPRESS

Fazlur Rehman urged PM Nawaz to raise Indian atrocities internationally. “The stance of parliamentary leaders on Kashmir is a reflection of the sentiments of Pakistani people.” He stressed the need for the national unity.

'Indus Water Treaty cannot be revoked unilaterally'

PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan said that the Kashmir dispute must be resolved in accordance with the aspirations of people of the region. The Indus Waters Treaty could not be unilaterally revoked by one country, he said, adding that Pakistan should give India a fitting reply if it tried to do this.

Meanwhile, Senator Kamil Ali Agha of Pakistan Mulsim League-Quaid (PML-Q) called on the PM to highlight Indian state terrorism in Kashmir and its designs on Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan. "We should strive to forge new alliances across international fora."



PM greets PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi. PHOTO: EXPRESS