World needs to tell India to stop Kashmir excesses: PM

PM Nawaz says international community must question India over continued suffering of Kashmiri people

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said that it is time that the international community fulfils its 70-year-old promise made to the Kashmiris and tells India ‘enough is enough’.

The premier stressed that Kashmir could not remain on the boil forever and the international community must question India over the continued suffering of the Kashmiri people.



Pakistan will continue to support the struggle of Kashmiris for their right to self-determination, Nawaz reiterated while addressing the International Parliamentary Seminar on Kashmir.

“The voices of the Kashmiri people for their freedom cannot be silenced by the gunfire of Indian security forces,” he said.

Terming Kashmir an integral part of Pakistan’s identity, the premier said that “our [Pakistanis] hearts beat in sync with our Kashmiri brethren and we share their happiness and gloom.”

“Supporting the just struggle of Kashmiris is an article of faith for every Pakistani,” he added, stressing that Pakistan would always extend moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris.

The prime minister said Kashmiri youth were writing a new chapter of their struggle for freedom following the killing of Burhan Wani who was slain by Indian security forces on July 8. His death sparked a wave of deadly clashes in the occupied valley -- the worst seen in years -- with at least 100 people dead and thousands injured.

Nawaz  pledged that Pakistan would make sure it highlights the Kashmir issue at every international forum and mentioned that the government had recently sent parliamentarians as its envoys abroad to apprise their counterparts about the plight of Kashmiris in Indian-held Kashmir.

"History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamour of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people," he said quoting Martin Luther King Jr.

The premier added that Pakistan desired peaceful relations with all its neighbours.

Zarb-e-Qalam

The premier also stressed that just like operation Zarb-e-Azb there was a dire need for operation Zarb-e-Qalam to fight the forces spreading extremism and intolerance in the society.

“I believe that the writers, poets and intellectuals have a key role for elimination of terrorism," he said addressing the inaugural session of fourth International Conference on `Language, Literature and Society' organised by Pakistan Academy of Letters.



Speaking highly of writers and intellectuals and their role for the establishment of peace and harmony in any society, Nawaz said that they were the most precious asset of any society.

He said through operation Zarb-e-Azb, the government and security forces had broken the backbone of terrorists and reiterated the government's resolve to revive peace and love in the country.

Economic polices

While chairing a meeting to review measures taken by the government to enhance Pakistan’s exports of Pakistan the premier said that the incumbent government due to its rational approach and prudent policies had achieved great success in economic growth which had been acknowledged by the international financial institutions.

"Our stock markets have shown phenomenal bullish trends, inflation rate has decreased and investors are now keen to invest in Pakistan,” he said.

The Prime Minister was informed that major issues identified regarding exports included competitive international suppliers who were also competing with Pakistani goods, comparative incentives on exports where other economies were providing higher incentives and taxation regime.

He was also informed regarding facilitative measures provided by the government in terms of support for plant and machinery for agro processing, technology up-gradation fund, brand and certification development, incentives on product development and related taxes and levies, a statement issued by the PM office said.

The premier suggested that in order to develop the export sector, key enablers including quality infrastructure, labour productivity, access to utilities and technological development needed to be focused upon.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2017.