“Terming bilateral negotiations between Pakistan and India on Kashmir as undermining UN Security Council's resolutions, is legally and political incorrect,” Aslam said, referring to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s criticism of his counterpart Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s speech at the UN General Assembly.
“The actual legal position on Kashmir is that the dispute must be resolved as per the aspirations of Kashmiri people through plebiscite.”
The spokesperson added that the Simla Agreement does not make UN resolutions ineffective.
Regarding the transition in power in Afghanistan’s presidency, the spokesperson said Pakistan welcomes the political transition in Afghanistan and also welcomes the Bilateral Security Agreement between Afghanistan and United States.
“Pakistan supports every initiative aimed at bringing stability in our western neighbour because sustainable peace is in our own interest.”
“Being an independent country, Afghanistan can sign any agreement with any country,” she added.
Reiterating Pakistan’s continued commitment to fight militants, Aslam said elimination of terrorism is a common responsibility of all countries in the region.
“The process of declaring any organisation as a terrorist outfit is enshrined in UN charter,” the spokesperson said, adding that the unilateral decision of the United States declaring three Pakistanis as terrorists does not apply on Pakistan.
Further, responding to a question regarding the issue of polio, Aslam said Pakistan is committed to eradication of the virus.
“The government is taking every possible step in this regard,” she said regretful that new polio cases have surfaced.
Welcoming the release of Pakistani journalist Faizullah Khan from Afghanistan, Aslam thanked the people involved in the efforts for his release.
“Pakistan through its mission in Afghanistan extended all possible support to Faizullah including provision of legal counsel,” she reiterated.
COMMENTS (61)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Jigi:
May I please correct you. Kashmir didn't accede to India. A feudal ruler whose ancestors purchased Kashmir from British Empire, who was not representative of people of Kashmir acceded to India. Any treaty signed by tribal chief couldn't be considered as a valid treaty as per international law. Actually when the so called ruler made pact with India, he had already lost substantial portion of Kashmir to freedom fighters especially from Ponch district (Remember the rebellion of Kashmir dates back to the emergence of Sikh empire and was at its peak during 1930s). India presented different situation to Governor General that Pakistan has attacked Kashmir which India couldn't prove later on. However Governor General accepted the accession conditionally in a letter saying
"Your highness' letter dated 26 Oct. has been delivered to me by Mr. V.P. Menon. In the special circumstances mentioned by Your Highness my Government has decided to accept the accession of Kashmir State to the Dominion of India. In consistence with their policy that in the case of any state, where the issue of accession has been the subject of dispute, the question of accession should be decided in accordance with the wishes of the people of the state, it is my Government's wish that as soon as law and order have beeps restored in Kashmir and her soil cleared of the invader, the question of the Stale's accession should he settled fay a reference to the people".
The accession you are referring has no basis in international law of court. For instance if it is considered valid, it is conditional to the will of people of Kashmir. Actually India has no legal right on Kashmir but only holding it by might of her military power.
@Sohail: Because Kashmir acceded to India in 1947. By all international law, practice and convention, accession amounts to full and final MERGER of Kashmir to the union of INDIA. It is the same way @150 Princely states acceded to form Pakistan today.
@Jigi: By what right you are calling Kashmir's land India's land and Kashmiri people Indian citizen?
@vinsin: Get over these pre-partition issues, however they all justify the cause of Kashmiri people. The people of Hyderabad and Junagadh (Despite having Muslim rulers) wanted to be part of India which they became in the end. State’s accession of Kashmir to Indian gov was issued on condition that final decision of Kashmir will be made by Kashmiris. Indian gov took the K-issue to UN and agreed to give people of Kashmir right of self-determination. What happens in Baluchistan has nothing to do with Kashmir issue. How & what Pakistan is doing and spending has nothing to do with India or Kashmir issue. Whether independent or with India or Pak, it should be according to the aspirations of Kashmiris, this is what that matters.
India is never going to resolve Kashmir issue 1-thru UNO's resolutions and 2-Kashmiri people's aspirations. Pakistani leadership at least now has to admit/confess the this harsh reality that the more both countries shall emphasize on peace talks the more both countries shall waste time and money on the photo session and fashion shows in regard of peace talks' meetings because 60 years years already have been wasted on peace talks and every meeting India has been saying and says based on falsehood,fabrication and embellishment that Kashmir is its integral part.In the last 60 years Pakistan could never coerce/convince India to recognize Kashmir as a disputed territory how can resolve Kashmir issue thru peace talks?Kashmir issue shall start towards resolution when India will recognize Kashmir as a disputed territory other wise all the efforts are useless and just wastage of time and money and non-result-oriented......
@Azad Jammu and Kashmir.: 1) You are wrong on Baluchistan. http://unpo.org/article/16948 2) Kashmir is a Muslim majortiy so what? Then why Jinnah accepted Junagadh? Why Jinnah tried to get Jodhpur and Jaisalmer into Pakistan? Why Jinnah didn't negotiate kashmir with britishers? Why Liaquat refused Sardar proposal to have Kashmir? By your logic Lahore and 30% of Sindh should come to India? All the above things already been discussed by Jinnah, please read History. 3) Why don't Pakistan go to ICJ and file a case then? 4) Indian Muslims didn't move to Pakistan, that makes the creation of Pakistan questionable? 5) Junagadh didn't become part of India because of Plebiscite. It was not connected to Pakistan. And Pakistan never send deployed army. 6) Indian Muslims can only get 25% of Land and you have already got more than that. 7) Even if all the Indian Muslims move to Pakistan then also Kashmir cannot be part of Pakistan. 8) Pakistan government is fighting for independent Kashmir. 9) You have already risked Bangladesh, didn't get your share of money after independence, over spend on military and security which make Kashmir a liability all in the name of Kashmir. 10) Kashmir historically has nothing to do with Islam or Muslims.
@Sohail: Not true Pakistan insistent on US to be the neutral observer which was what Nehru rejected.
My Pakistani Brothers please read history.
Dipak@Fatima: Independent Kashmir will not last even one week. So drop even thoughts of independent Kashmir. Pakistan will takeover and loot Kashmir int pieces. The Shia community of Kashmir will be killed and destroyed. And why should India even think of giving up its own territory. Stop dreaming and accept reality.
First resolve Pakistan according to the aspirations of TuQ and Imran Khan. Then we can talk of Kashmir.
Bottom line is, people of Kashmir wants to be with Pakistan, nobody is stopping them, please happily migrate to Pakistan, you cant take away which is yours and that is the land of Kashmir. If you want to stay with India you are most welcome. Sooner you understand and come to terms with it better for all in region. Else India is well prepared to wait for next 70 yrs. And you can continue holding your next two generations hostage to your whining.
@Hilarious: The important thing is to carry out free and fair elections and give people of J&K right of self determination. The very same right, Mr. Ghandi agreed to give to the people of J&K. Surely Pakistan had concerns in withdrawing all of her forces from J&K while India kept her. There is no harm to India in withdrawing forces simultaneously under neutral observers until or unless Indian gov wants to create an issue out of nothing.
People need to understand the basic principle of modern nations and rights of citizenry. No citizen has a sovereign right to land in a modern nation which they can secede with. Hence, Kashmiris DO NOT HAVE ANY RIGHT OF DETERMINATION OF LAND OF KASHMIR. The Land belongs to the Republic of India and the entire people collectively. They can self-determine the government only.
@Sohail:
Sorry Sohail, you don't get to decide. Please read the UN Resolution - FIRST the Pak forces were to withdraw, not simultaneously. You are the guys who keep shouting that the UN resolution must be followed. You cant chop and change it to suit you. And, since then, you have handed over Kashmiri land to China and resettled Punjabis there. Now, what were you saying.... ?
Why cant Pakistan take a hint. The Indians are not interested in talking to you.
@Vikram: 1. Stick to the issue. Kashmir issue has nothing to do the islamic jihadist or any other form of radical Islam. 2. By that logic, If people of Azad Kashmir aren't happy with Pakistan, they will surely vote for India. Let them decide what they wan't instead of any Indian sitting hundreds of miles away in India.
@Arijit Sharma Well these issues could be discussed if India enters in a bilateral meeting with Pakistan with sincerity. In last decade India has been using delaying tactics to avoid talks. Pakistan wants good relations with India and want to resolve this issue. Indian gov cancelled talks at high commissioner level for meeting with IHK separatist leaders recently. This is not new thing, they have been doing this since decades. Indian PM agreed to enter talks but not in shadow of terrorism. There has been no terrorism issue since last 7 years. Principally India should enter talks with Pakistan but you will see it won't happen. India, intoxicated by her military and economic superiority, thinks that power can prevail over principles, but power can never prevail over principles. People of Kashmir and Pakistan will never let it prevail unjustly.
Kashmir dispute must be resolved as per aspirations of Kashmiri people: FO
Fair enough. By the same noble thought, Balochistan issue must be resolved as per aspirations of the Balochi people.
@BruteForce & @someone
I'm aware of UN resolution and subsequent talks between Pakistan and India. Pakistan agreed to withdraw its forces from Azad Kashmir on condition that India should also simultaneously withdraw its forces from IHK (Keeping minimum forces approved by UN commission) . Pakistan's stance was that free and fair election couldn't be held under armed Indian forces. India rejected that proposal. Guess why? May be India didn't wan't free elections under neutral observer. Whats logically wrong with carrying out referendum under neutral forces? The credibility of election carried out by armed Indian Army is questionable, that is why Syed Ali Gellani along with APHC don't participate in elections. I'm aware of economic stability and military superiority of India over Pakistan, this should add to the inclination of support of Kashmiris for India. If India has advantage, why not carry out fair elections now? This will bring peace in whole of South-Asia. Without resolving Kashmir issue there can be no peace between India & Pakistan. Believe me...
@Haider: And the leaders of "Azad Kashmir" cannot stand for elections till he/she signs a declaration loyality and make "Azad Kashmir" part of Pakistan. How pathetic!!
@Aftab Riaz: Geelani then posted " Indian Army rescued me from floods but them I am a thankless person and would not thank those who did so"
I am all for resolution of the "Kashmir Issue". Lets begin by having India establish a Consulate in "Azad" Jammu and Kashmir and let "Azad" Jammu and Kashmir have a consulate in New Delhi.
@Aftab Riaz: You wanted to see one Kashmiri, here I am Riaz Sahab categorically declaring that I do not wish to join a 'failed' state that cannot keep its various ethnic groups and minorities together and treats all ethnic groups 3rd grade citizens (Baloch, Sindhis, Kashmiris and Baltis). I donot wish to be part of a country where violence, bloodshed and killings is the order of the day. I wish religion to be separated from the state. I wish to remain with India!
@Haider: Is it really "Azad"? Doesn't a secretary level Administrator from ministry of Kashmir Affairs run the region?
@Usama: Army has been deputed to tackle infiltrators pushed in by Pakistan army. Indian army was never deployed in such large number before the 90s. Pakistan has played all kinds of games in Kashmir since 1948 to fuel tension.
What about resolving Lahore also with pre independence people by vote?
Are Muslims Kashmiri's? Because the name of the state is derived from a Hindu Saint. So how can Muslims claim the state, let alone claim what they occupy now? You are even unable to take care of Pakistan let a lone another state. If you want Kashmir try going to war and see what happens! China asked you for bits of Kashmir and you gave them away!!! We all know this is non-sense.
@Good Idea; Kashmiris in Pakistan are not even free to express their views. Kashmiris get treated the same way Baloch are treated, a little better than how East Pakistani were treated.
@Syed Jalal Kashmiri: Why not go to Islamic calipahte and help your Jihadi brothers. Lot of your brothers who converted to Islam are enjoying beheading people and killing Shias and non-Muslims.
If you live in a building owned by some other person, you can never become the owner just by living in it. Kashmir was owned by a Hindu Maharajah who decided to join India
@Aftab Riaz: valley is part of kashmir not the kashmir, your so called leader tried his hand at election too,after looking at the valley people ralley around him and lost the deposit ....as far as jammu and ladakh concerned just go there tell them you are from pakistan and please keep us posted on their reaction ..some how pakistanis couldn't find time to implement 2nd para of UN resolutions in 67yrs,of which they are quite fond of...vacate the POK,bring back the part of the kashmir that you sold to your chinese masters,then start talking about plebiscite. otherwise you can sit on your highhorse for another 100yrs...nobody gives a damn
@Aftab Riaz: even 20 million muslims in rest of India also have sympathies for pakistan , take all these muslims also into pakistan,India will give u kashmir otherwise never talk about kashmir
@Sohail:
Geelani is like your average Islamist in Pakistan. Ask him to stand in Elections and prove his majority, he wont.
He knows he wont win, simply because Ladakh is Buddhist majority and Jammu is Hindu majority. Why on Earth would they vote for a man who have unequivocally said he wants Sharia imposed in Kashmir?
Islamists in Pakistan get less than 10% of the votes, why do you think its much different in Kashmir?
Plebsicte is blocked by Pakistan herself.
http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/documents/jkunresolution.html
Read the above link where it clearly says Pakistan must vacate Kashmir and restore status quo.
Kashmir belongs to India & I don't think any force in the world can separate Kashmir from India. Pakistan needs to understand that no country is bothered about Kashmir issues raised by Pak in every international forum.
If you are so bothered about Kashmiri freedom then set an example by doing the same in Balochistan...
Can you?
@Aftab Riaz:
Why are you supporting Islamists in Kashmir? Do you support TTP in Pakistan? Why this hypocrisy?
Look at the last paragraph of Geelani quote. Jammu is Hindu majority, Ladakh is Buddhist. Why should Islam and Sharia be imposed on them?
Please stop supporting Terrorists or their sympathizers.
@Sid: The Kashmiri freedom movement revolves around either merging with Pakistan or separating from India. Question of How Independent is between us. And the other point: Where have they gone? Please enlighten us.
@Baddi Magane: Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland. Pakistan is touching non of these.
@Sohail: Well you are definitely one of the millions Pakistani who keep mentioning UN plebiscite but have no knowledge about it. Have you read the conditions of it?
@Haider: And how much independent is "Azad Kashmir" ? why doesn't Pakistan actually makes Azad Kashmir azad and then ask India to follow it's foot steps? Occupying a territory and labeling it "Azad" does not make it so. How many original Kashmiris left in Azad Kashmir ?
We Kashmiris have struggled too long and too hard for our freedom. Our friends in Pakistan and the Muslim world can attest to this fact. We will stop at nothing short of full independence from India. India had 67 years to prove it could treat the Kashmiri people as human beings, but failed on all accounts.
Kashmiris' lives aren't a game. We are real people who deserve the chance to live freely like any other human being. I am confident that freedom is coming soon. Discrimination of aid and support during flood on the basis of religion is the final straw. Entire Kashmir is sick and tired of Indian hypocrisy, and now we are finally ready to do something about it. Anger in Kashmir is at fever pitch.
@Mega: :) You show me one, we will show you thousands of Kashmiris Men, women and children roaring for Pakistan and wants to be a part of it. Go and ask the people from the Kashmir valley and Ladhak etc and see by yourself what they want....they are speaking by themselves to be a part of Pakistan. on 14th Aug they celebrate Pakistan Independence day and they call 15th Aug 'A Black Day'.
Well, busy a bit, well...I am in favour of free and fair referendum or elections ... . as this is the best way to win Kashmir :) Have a Good Night
@Mega If the situation is as you say, why not holding a fair plebiscite held by UN. India is greater democracy having superior economy and by your logic Kashmiri people should choose India. Why not just end this issue once and for all just by holding plebiscite under neutral forces?
My full sympathies are with the Foreign Office spokes-person who would be receiving such a large number of faxes/mails from the GHQ in her office mostly concerning issue of denials against accusations made by neighbouring countries, statements on Kashmir, Afghanistan, Baluchistan etc the list is endless. Her job is always on line if FO ever ventures to make any changes in the text sent by the deep state. Let me inform the Pak FO that in India these are routinely filed by the clerks after signature of an official of Under Secretary level and not put up beyond as most of them are of repetitive nature and considered as junk mail. The above statement also falls in the same category. Madam, please don't mind my writing the facts as you or your ministry are not to be blamed.
@ Aftab Riaz Thank you for sharing. Syed Ali Gillani is by far the most respected Kashmiri leader in Azad Kashmir also. Pakistan has some internal and external problems but still the situation is not as bad as it is being portrayed.
Kashmiris always want to be the part of PAKISTAN, and there is no deny in that. Sooner or Later Kashmir will be a Part of Pakistan InshaAllah. Please read the post above for your reference too by Mr. Aftab Riaz.
Kashmiris, we are with you always. Kashmir Banay ga Pakistan InshaAllah
And do the Pakistan knows that the aspiration of Kashmirs to get a free and independent state both from Pakistan and India. They are fed-up in last 66 years of exploitation from both sides. And if the Pakistani foreign ministry remember once US and world leaders has proposed the idea of Kashmir both under Pakistan and India as new independent state but Pakistan refused that. Now the stance of Pakistan for the free Kashmir is just a tactical issue to keep the discussion continue and use it for the hidden agenda. The issue of Kashmir is not an issue but a self created and home made teasing point. Both India and Pakistan must need to realized and if they are serious the best solution for this self created problem as to get the people of both Kashmir as an independent state. If not now...it will be itself later on. Hoping that both countries as mature and civilized countries should understand.
In letter and in spirit, Pakistan must accept that negotiation within the parameters of the Shimla Agreement and Lahore Declaration is the only path to a mutually respectful and friendly relationship with India.
Contaminating those solemn agreements by unilaterally interjecting a bunch of worthless separatists as a third party and wailing from the august podium of the United Nations General Assembly are nothing but an exercise in futility. The faster Pakistan recognizes that fact and acts on it, the sooner it can start reaping the benefits of peace and prosperity.
Geelani’s August 14 Message to Pakistan
SRINAGAR
'QUOTE While extending heartfelt greetings to the people, government and army of Pakistan on their Independence Day, CHAIRMAN All Parties Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani said, “due to the support of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the Right to Self Determination of the Kashmiri nation, this is our most favoured and supportive country, so we always pray for the peace and stability of this country and we are of the view that a strong Pakistan is very vital for the resolution of Kashmir dispute.”
According to a statement issued on Tuesday, while repeating the shutdown call for 15 August, Geelani said that they do not have any enmity with India or its people but our fight is with the rulers and policy makers of this country who have snatched our freedom and who are a main hurdle between Kashmir’s Right to Self Determination.
“Pakistan is the centre or the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri nation and after the Almighty Allah, Pakistan is the only visible support in our freedom struggle who every time supports our right to self determination at national as well as international levels and who have always helped the subjugated Kashmiris at political, diplomatically and moral levels,” Geelani said in a message to Pakistan on its August 14 celebrations.
He said that the existence of Pakistan have proven a ‘great blessing’ for the Muslims of the sub-Continent and it has played a vital role in giving a recognition to the minority community of the region.
“Even after the 67 years, the mad and communal minded people of India are still to accept the existence of those Muslims who remained with India and according to the Justice Sacher Committee Report, they are continuously being pushed backward in every sphere of the life and they are not safe in India. If the existence of Pakistan would have not came into being then the condition of the Muslims of the sub-continent would not have been better than this because even then they were minorities here and the fear of a powerful Muslim country in the neighbourhood would not have existed,” he said.
Geelani said, “our affection and attachment with the Pakistan is not merely on the bases of emotions but we have strong reasons and arguments for this. If this country would not have been backing us, then in the crime of demanding our freedom, not only we would have been eliminated in one go but the Muslims living in India would have been forced to migrate from here by the communal forces of India.”
Expressing his deep concern over the present situation of Pakistan, the pro-freedom leader of Kashmir said that on the one hand this country is the victim of the external conspiracies of America, ISRAEL and India and on the other hand some unpleasant friends have internally created a serious situation for this country, the statement quoting Geelani as having said.
While addressing the politicians of the Pakistan, Geelani said that this country can’t afford any unpleasant activity by its own people whatsoever their purpose is, it will further disturb the situation in this country and it will only help the enemies of this nation to succeed.
Greeting particularly the Pakistan army, Geelani said, “this army has dual responsibilities: it not only has to protect the geographical borders of Pakistan but it has also the responsibility to protect the ideological boundaries of this country.”
He added, “this country has been created on the name of Islam and only Islam is the can guaranty the peace, stability and the bright future for this country and for which the Pakistan army can play a vital role.” UNQUOTE'
please post
@Baba Farid:
You nailed it buddy! No more words necessary.
@Logical:
Very well said.
We heard you maam!
...... the dispute must be resolved as per the aspirations of Kashmiri people ....... Kashmiri people have made it very clear what their aspirations are: by ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits. I am sorry to my Kashmiri brothers, but the fact is that self-determination is a privilege, and not a right. And this privilege is not given to everyone, least of all to those who have the propensity to deprive other people of their rights.
My advise (and indeed that of the West's) to Pakistan is stop this obsession with Kashmir. Pakistan itself is bankrupt and it cannot look after itself. I fail to understand why it keeps opening this issue. The only way it can have is by military force. That will never happen because its army is far inferior than that of India. We are comparing an ant with an elephant.
The country is facing floods, balance of payment problems, polio is running rampant, IDP's are in urgent need of basic necessities, Zarb-e-azb is consuming the military budget, airplanes are either being shot at or falling out of the skies, the government is besieged at the Red zone, law and order is almost non-existent to the extent that vigilantism is looking legitimate, minorities are fleeing the country, the PM is gallivanting in five star hotels, while a former CEO is awaiting the axe to fall! Balochistan is burning, textile and agricultural outputs are failing, foreign investment and aid is disappearing, the Stock exchange is in a downward spiral and public servants are behaving like feudal overlords spinning Byzantine plots of revenge. No one has a clue how to stop any of these problems, but yes, mention Kashmir and magically everyone has a sense of unity and purpose! And what a sense of entitlement, the UN no less, will solve it for us fairly. Someone needs to get their priorities right!
@Farah:
DISAGREED STRONGLY. If thats the case, why India has deputed so much army in the region? Why there has been casualties every now and then?? Thing is a local kashmiri HATE india. On the other hand, they dont hate pakistan, but they dont want to be a part of it either.. They want to be independent...!
And stop posting with a fake name next time
Pray tell us how the UN resolution reads.
Pakistan wants Kashmir issue to be resolved in their favor and India in their favor..honestly neither party considers what Kashmiris want.
They will opt for independence from both countries..
As far as Indian occupied Kashmir joining Pakistan is concerned, honestly the possiblity of that happening is reducing day by day. Kashmiris are becoming very concerned about Pakistan's problems - higher corruption, load shedding, terrorism, suicide bombings, gullus butts/ state violence... in the shape Pakistan is in right now ordinary Kashmirs find no reason to merge with Pakistan as they will inherit these problems.
The actual legal position on Balochistan is that the dispute must be resolved as per the aspirations of Balochistan people through plebiscite.
And Kashmiris aspire to be in India instead of country with no future..