Kashmir abuses in spotlight as PM meets world leaders

Turkey to send fact-finding mission to disputed territory

NEW YORK: Unabated rights abuses by Indian security forces in the disputed Kashmir region were the main talking points when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met with world leaders on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly session that kicked off on Tuesday in New York.

Premier Sharif met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and requested him to exercise his influence as leader of a major world power to get blatant human rights violations stopped in Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK).



More than 80 people have been killed and thousands injured in ruthless use of force by Indian security forces in their attempt to quell an uprising sparked off by the killing of a popular young Kashmiri separatist Burhan Wani in a gunfight with police on July 8.

Sharif highlighted the plight of the Kashmiri people who, he said, should be allowed to decide the fate of their disputed region in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions. The Japanese leader voiced serious concerns over the rights situation in IOK.

Premier Sharif also listed Pakistan’s successes in Operation Zarb-e-Azb which has been launched to purge the country of the evil of terrorism. “Pakistan is implementing the National Action Plan against terrorism to restore peace in the country,” he added.

Prime Minister Abe also condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan, particularly the Quetta hospital bombing, and offered condolences over the loss of innocent lives.

On Afghanistan, Sharif informed his Japanese counterpart about Pakistan’s efforts for peace and reconciliation and reiterated his country’s desire for a stable and prosperous Afghanistan. Abe supported Pakistan’s efforts for reaching out to neighbours for regional peace and stability.

Sharif also told the Japanese leader about the economic turnaround in his country, saying that Pakistan’s economic indicators were improving while the energy crisis was being tackled. “These achievements reinforced foreign investors’ confidence and turned Pakistan into an ideal destination for investment.”



Sharif highlighted Pakistan’s investment potential, saying that Japan could invest in producing value-added goods for mutual good of the two countries. “Japan is one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners with annual bilateral trade of $1.86 billion. The trade (quantum) needs to be enhanced,” he added.

Sharif and Abe agreed to commence negotiations for a free trade agreement between their countries. They also agreed to increase the frequency of high-level interactions between their countries to lend greater momentum to bilateral ties.

The two leaders voiced concerns over the recent developments in the Korean Peninsula. Premier Sharif condemned recent nuclear tests by North Korea and urged Pyongyang to abide by its international treaty obligations.

Separately, Premier Sharif met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan where he also raised the issue of ongoing human rights abuses by Indian troops in IOK. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi, Turkey’s foreign minister and other officials also attended the meeting.

President Erdogan said his country would send a fact-finding mission to IOK in its capacity as the chair of human rights commission of the OIC Contact Group. Premier Sharif thanked the Turkish president for his support. “Turkey and Pakistan are inseparable countries. We are friends forever.”



Erdogan said Turkey and Pakistan have always been and will continue to remain strong and steadfast partners in bringing peace in their respective regions as well as in the Muslim world.

Premier Sharif offered condolences to the Turkish leader over the loss of lives in recent terrorist attacks. He also conveyed a sense of relief on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to Erdogan for defeating the attempted coup by a section of the Turkish military.

He also hailed the positive contribution of Turkish companies which have invested heavily in infrastructure and services sectors in Pakistan. He called for an early finalisation of a free trade agreement between Pakistan and Turkey to maximise trade potential between them.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2016.