Pakistan renews Kashmir pledge

President, PM reaffirm unwavering support for Kashmir cause

ISLAMABAD:

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering political, diplomatic and moral support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

They urged the international community to play a more active role in resolving the decades-old dispute in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.

In separate messages issued to mark Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir, observed annually on August 5, the country's top leadership condemned India's unilateral actions of August 5, 2019, saying they had failed to alter the internationally recognised disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir or weaken the resolve of its people.

Both leaders also reiterated Pakistan's commitment to continue raising the Kashmir issue at every regional and international forum.

In his message, President Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering solidarity with the people of IIOJK and paid tribute to their courage, resilience and commitment to their just struggle for the realisation of their inalienable right to self-determination.

"Seven years have passed since India's illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019, which sought to alter the internationally recognised disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir in violation of international law and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions," the president said.

He said those actions had neither changed the legal status of the dispute nor weakened the resolve of the Kashmiri people.

In a separate message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed that a peaceful and just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remained a cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy.

He said Pakistan would continue to extend diplomatic, political and moral support to the Kashmiri people and raise their voice at every regional and international forum.

The PM called on the international community to urge India to end human rights violations in IIOJK, reverse the unilateral measures introduced since August 2019, repeal draconian laws imposed on the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

He also urged the international community to create an environment conducive to a peaceful settlement of the dispute through the exercise of the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

In his message marking Youm-e-Istehsal, the prime minister said the people and government of Pakistan stood in unwavering solidarity with their Kashmiri brothers and sisters.

"We solemnly observe this day to remind the world of the grave consequences of India's illegal and unilateral actions of 5 Aug 2019, which sought to alter the internationally recognized disputed status of Kashmir," he said.